Edward Smith Hamilton (1917 – June 30, 2006) was an American army officer during World War II, and later a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative in China, East Germany and Turkey. Hamilton graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1939. He went ashore at Normandy two days after D-Day in command of a battalion in the 90th Infantry Division. After defending a key bridge, he was awarded the Silver Star on August 5, 1944. On September 8, 1944, he and his troops disabled 4 German tanks and captured 17 soldiers; for his heroism, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. He lost his left eye two days later in a battle. He was awarded three Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star .