Leonard Hawkins was one of the men who were administering first-aid to the injured men on the battlefield. These men were unable to move, and he was helping these men off the battlefield and into safety. He was shot while he was making his way toward the front lines and sacrificed his life trying to aid the injured.
After his body was identified, they discovered that he had only two of his personal effects on him: an address book and a billfold. His official death date is May 6, 1945. He was buried overseas in the Manila American Cemetery located in the Philippine Islands. For his outstanding service and bravery, his commanding general awarded him the Silver Star, which is awarded to those who have shown gallantry in battle, and the Purple Heart. Hawkins was reburied at the Leyte Cemetery on March 20, 1946 in a shelter half, and his grave was marked by a cross. He had previously been buried at the Parang Cemetery in Mindanao. His body was verified by Richard Hoyt, an embalmer, on December 15, 1948, for shipment. He was transferred to Fort McKinley Military Cemetery on June 28, 1949. A flag was shipped June 29, 1949 to Leonard’s father. His wife remarried a man named Durward B. Browning on July 19, 1947 in Cleveland Mississippi. |