While veterans and heroes from the global war on terrorism are being remembered all over the country, Fort Stewart remembered one of its own World War II medal of honor recipients Thursday during a building dedication ceremony.
The late Third Infantry Division Sgt. First Class Lloyd C. Hawks was the first combat medic awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II for his actions near Carano, Italy on Jan. 30, 1944.
Several of his family members attended the ceremony naming a new Troop Medical Clinic in his honor.
“His heroic act would make up one of many rich chapters detailing the division's history of sacrifice and valor in combat,” said Commanding General Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch.
Hawks died more than 50 years ago. His daughter and niece were in attendance Thursday to see the bronze bust remembering his service to his country.
“This is such an honor,” said Hawks’ daughter, Charlotte Kearns.
“I’m sure if my dad was here, he’d be humbly proud,” she said. Kearns was only 11 months old when her father died.
Hawks was a private in 1944 and received the Medal of Honor for gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.
According to the citation, Hawks braved an enemy counterattack in order to rescue two wounded men. The men were unable to move, were lying in an exposed position within 30 yards of the enemy when Hawks took action.
Hawks’ helmet was penetrated and knocked from his head by enemy machine gun fire, but Hawks regained consciousness and went on to rescue his fellow soldiers. As he raised himself to get bandages from his medical kit, his right hip was shattered by a burst of machine gun fire and a second burst splintered his left forearm.
Despite the severe pain and his dangling left arm, Hawks completed bandaging the remaining soldiers and pulled them to safety.
Hawks received a variety of commendations throughout his military career, including the Italian Military medal of Valor Gold Cross, which is much like the Medal of Honor. He also received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon, the Japanese Occupation Medal and the combat medical badge.
Lynch said the soldier was an example of the legacy of the army's medical personnel.
"We have made an enormous advancement in modern medicine since World War II, but one thing will never change - our medics and caregivers are committed to saving the lives of our soldiers," Lynch said.
The late Third Infantry Division Sgt. First Class Lloyd C. Hawks was the first combat medic awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II for his actions near Carano, Italy on Jan. 30, 1944.
Several of his family members attended the ceremony naming a new Troop Medical Clinic in his honor.
“His heroic act would make up one of many rich chapters detailing the division's history of sacrifice and valor in combat,” said Commanding General Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch.
Hawks died more than 50 years ago. His daughter and niece were in attendance Thursday to see the bronze bust remembering his service to his country.
“This is such an honor,” said Hawks’ daughter, Charlotte Kearns.
“I’m sure if my dad was here, he’d be humbly proud,” she said. Kearns was only 11 months old when her father died.
Hawks was a private in 1944 and received the Medal of Honor for gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.
According to the citation, Hawks braved an enemy counterattack in order to rescue two wounded men. The men were unable to move, were lying in an exposed position within 30 yards of the enemy when Hawks took action.
Hawks’ helmet was penetrated and knocked from his head by enemy machine gun fire, but Hawks regained consciousness and went on to rescue his fellow soldiers. As he raised himself to get bandages from his medical kit, his right hip was shattered by a burst of machine gun fire and a second burst splintered his left forearm.
Despite the severe pain and his dangling left arm, Hawks completed bandaging the remaining soldiers and pulled them to safety.
Hawks received a variety of commendations throughout his military career, including the Italian Military medal of Valor Gold Cross, which is much like the Medal of Honor. He also received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon, the Japanese Occupation Medal and the combat medical badge.
Lynch said the soldier was an example of the legacy of the army's medical personnel.
"We have made an enormous advancement in modern medicine since World War II, but one thing will never change - our medics and caregivers are committed to saving the lives of our soldiers," Lynch said.