Back Row:(left to right)
Wilbert Veit, Robert J. Abadie, Robert E. Hobson, Leonard Neal, James A. 'Al' Holloway, Charles Winfield, (unknown), Wallace George Smith Sr, Kermit Foles, Ralph Kelland, 1st Sgt Barnes, Clarence McClain, (unknown), Art Levering, (unknown), Gilbert Campbell, Gerald Fried, Berg, (unknown), Trelvie Collum, Murphy, William F. 'Willie Fred' Montgomery, Clothel 'CC' Dulaney, John Seitz, Art Barry, Ernest Bennett, Lewis B. Kelly, Robert A. Lee, John O'Connor, C. A. 'Bunk' Lewis, and Sam Linden Front Row:(left to right) Lyle Harvey, Neil McLeod, L. H. 'Casey' Keele, John 'Rock' Biernett, Bertel Luke, Raymond L. 'Ray' Roach, Eric Murrah, Frank E. LeVan, Dr. Giandomenico (called 'Doctor DeeJohn'), Hosie Smith, Richard 'Scooter' Edwards, Edward A. St. Germain, Arthur G. 'Guy' Black, Levite, William M. Prather, Allen Purdy, Ernest Smith, and Roger B. 'Hound Dog' Smith This photo was taken at Camp Stoneman, California, after the surviving men of the 124th Infantry Regiment Medical Detachment returned to the United States. the members of the 31st Division were activated on April 5, 1944 at Oro Bay. They first entered combat at Aitape New Guinea in July 1944.
It was recently uncovered on October 6, 2005, by a man named Paul Webber in Starkville, Mississippi. He came down for the division's annual reunion, and a Mr. Raymond Roach invited Webber back to his house. The photo was then pointed out to him, and everyone at the reunion then began helping to identify all of the men in the photo. Four men still remain unknown today. Hawkins enlisted in the military on November 6, 1942 at Camp Shelby for the duration of the war and 6 months after according to the law.[1]He joined the 124th infantry Regiment, 31st Infantry Division – Medical Detachment. This division was nicknamed the “Dixie” Division. Its slogan was “It Shall Be Done."
The 31st Division, led by Major General Clarence A. Martin, reached the Southwest Pacific on March 1944. They helped the troops that were fighting near the Druinimor River. 3,000 enemy soldiers were killed. They were one of the infantries that were trapping the Japanese Eighteenth Army between Hollandia and Aitape on March 22, 1944. Hawkins was serving in Maramag, Mindanao, in the Philippine Islands when he was killed in action during the Battle of Mindanao due to a gunshot wound to the head. Hawkins was on the battlefield trying to help the wounded as the enemy opened fire. He continued to move towards the front of the line to assist the wounded until an enemy sniper shot him in the head. The Battle of Mindanao did not begin until March 10, 1945 and ended August 15, 1945. The Island of Mindanao was one of the islands that were a part of the United States operation called Victor V. The ground operations included the 24th Infantry Division, the 31st Infantry Division, and the X Corps. On April 22, 1945, the 31st Division arrived at Malabang to join the 24th Division. The plan was to seize Japanese control of Davao City. From there, the 31st would head towards Kabacan, a key road junction on Mindanao, and then continue north. By now, the 30th and 100th Japanese Divisions had become separated and were only prepared to defend an attack from the sea. By the time they realized the western landing was not a diversion tactic, the X Corps had arrived. The Japanese were defeated, and the 24th Division headed toward Davao City. American troops continued to pursue and push the Japanese further towards Klaja Karst. The Japanese were heavily bombed until August. This marked the end of Japanese resistance in Mindanao. |