‘Bud’ Hawk so much more than war hero

[Springfield0612]

A local warrior passed away recently. I was recovering from a surgery and knew nothing about the memorial service so I was not able to attend. Just wanted to post this to honor his memory. It is all too often that we are losing the men and women who did great things for their country and those experiences will be lost forever. The things that this gentleman was able to do, live through, experience, and survive is amazing. If only we could get the future generations to hear how they persevered and were successful. Every time I hear of a young person committing suicide because of bullying, I think how did people like ‘Bud’ Hawk make it through?

[DCP]

At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

[Springfield0612]

http://www.nwnavylife.com/news/2013/nov/13/bud-hawk-so-much-more-war-hero/

The link didn't post earlier. This article tells a quick tale of his accomplishments. The man was the recipient of the MOA and multiple purple hearts among others.

[Frank46]

I sometimes wish I could find an old vet who would talk about his war time experiences. Many of them have sorta shut that part of their lives behind a wall and refuse to discuss it with anyone. With so few WWII vets left and at the alarming numbers in which they are leaving us it's a pity those experiences go with the vet when he or she go for their last ride. Not to write a book but so that in years to come someone will remember what he or she had done. Frank

[DCP]

One has to wonder where his brothers are that took the oath.

[DCP]

BUMP FOR THE MEDAL OF HONOR and SOB

http://www.cmohs.org/


John Hawk Passes Away


John D. Hawk, Sergeant in the U.S Army, passed away on Monday, November 4th. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

Citation

He manned a light machinegun on 20 August 1944, near Chambois, France, a key point in the encirclement which created the Falaise Pocket. During an enemy counterattack, his position was menaced by a strong force of tanks and infantry. His fire forced the infantry to withdraw, but an artillery shell knocked out his gun and wounded him in the right thigh. Securing a bazooka, he and another man stalked the tanks and forced them to retire to a wooded section. In the lull which followed, Sgt. Hawk reorganized 2 machinegun squads and, in the face of intense enemy fire, directed the assembly of 1 workable weapon from 2 damaged guns. When another enemy assault developed, he was forced to pull back from the pressure of spearheading armor. Two of our tank destroyers were brought up. Their shots were ineffective because of the terrain until Sgt. Hawk, despite his wound, boldly climbed to an exposed position on a knoll where, unmoved by fusillades from the enemy, he became a human aiming stake for the destroyers. Realizing that his shouted fire directions could not be heard above the noise of battle, he ran back to the destroyers through a concentration of bullets and shrapnel to correct the range. He returned to his exposed position, repeating this performance until 2 of the tanks were knocked out and a third driven off. Still at great risk, he continued to direct the destroyers' fire into the Germans' wooded position until the enemy came out and surrendered. Sgt. Hawk's fearless initiative and heroic conduct, even while suffering from a painful wound, was in large measure responsible for crushing 2 desperate attempts of the enemy to escape from the Falaise Pocket and for taking more than 500 prisoners.

[Springfield0612]

Amazing..........

[wch]

Over time I have come to the conclusion that they all were amazing.