Herbert I. Hammer of Newtown died Friday, June 29, 2018 at Chandler Hall Hospice in Newtown. He was 77.

Herb was the beloved husband of 59 years to Laura A. Ziembka Hammer.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late Sam and Frances Greene Hammer.

Herb grew up in Brooklyn, NY and Flemington, NJ. He attended schools in Brooklyn and finished high school in Flemington, NJ class of 1958. Herb traveled the world during his US Navy career that started 15 days after he turned 17years old and came to an end in 1973 when he was medically retired. A second-class Petty Officer, Herb was an Aviation Metal Smith (AMH2) and was a decorated Vietnam War veteran. During his illustrious Navel career, he served as a Navy recruiter (Lakehurst, NJ), a career counselor (VA-145) in Oak Harbor, WA as well as a squadron Painter and Corrosion Control (VFP-62) in Jacksonville, FL. Herb served as a plane captain (T-34) plus normal metal smith duties. In 1968, Herb volunteered for Vietnam Service. He received commendations for heroism during the 1969 explosion and fire on the nuclear carrier Enterprise (CVAN65) while attached to attack squadron 145. He was also awarded commendations for performance above and beyond what was expected which included Navy and Marine Corp meritorious medal, 2 good conduct awards, Armed Forces Expeditionary medal for service in Korea as well as Vietnam Service and Vietnam Campaign medals. During his service Herb attended many schools. After boot camp at Bainbridge, Maryland, he reported to NAS CORY Field in Pensacola, FL and from there was sent to Preparary  school  in Norman, OK and finally to NATTC in Memphis, Tenn. He served in various other squadrons and schools. While on recruiting duty, Herb had the privilege to fly and serve with LT Dan Schewell (the Navy’s First Top Gun) prior to leaving for Vietnam. Herb was a plank owner at the Navy Memorial in Washington DC and also a charter member and first commander of the DAV Chapter 17 in Doylestown.

While on active duty on a Mediterranean cruise along with two fellow shipmates they had a private audience with the Pope as well as personally meeting and having dinner with the U.S. Ambassador to France.

Herb is also a Navy Shellback and recipient of the Domain of the Golden Dragon in 1969.

Additionally, he was picked to appear on stage on the Merv Griffin Show telling jokes and adlibbing. Herb was a real hit with the audience and had a lifelong sense of humor.

After his Navy retirement, he was employed as a truck driver with Mason-Dixon Lines out of Hatfield, PA and was a retired member of the Teamsters Local 384 in Norristown.

During his Navy career, Herb was known as a “Comshaw Artist” (the go to guy – “get it done”).  In his business life he parlayed this gift to accomplish his goals. He helped start many business’s which included a moving and storage company, a chicken farm in New Jersey and was the co-founder of Mikes Deli and Mike’s Place in Wrightstown. Herb also helped start a topsoil and mulch company and operated an Atlantic service station Pools Corner in Doylestown.

Herb always tried to mentor anyone that asked for his help. It was, to him, a real source of pleasure to see someone else succeed. He was known for his huge yard sales and for being a junkman recycler. Herb started doing this in the 1940’s with his grandfather in a horse and buggy in Brooklyn. During most of his life he always did junking (recycling) and was known to give away as much as he collected. He proudly considered himself a “dumpster diver”.

In addition to his beloved wife Laura, Herbert is survived by his children, Michael J. Hammer and his wife Sherri of Newtown and Walter F. Hammer of Rushland, his 2 brothers A. Ted Hammer and his wife Amy of West Bloomfield, MI, the late Paul Hammer and his wife Marilyn of Medford, NJ and his 2 sisters and  Sandra V. Gilleo of Pennsylvania and Ruby Kent and her husband Dave of  New Hampshire. He was the Dear Pop-Pop to his 4 grandchildren, Brittany M., Tanya M., Bailey and Alexander W. Hammer and will be greatly missed by his great grandchildren Liam Michael Kent and Madison Jade Kent.       

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing from 8:30am until his Funeral Service 10:00am on Friday, July 6 in the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Road (at Holland Rd.) Richboro, Pa 18954. Herb’s interment will follow with military honors in Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown.

If lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or the Doylestown, PA Disabled American Veterans Chapter, Doylestown #17, 315 North St., Doylestown, PA 18901.