World War II Honoree

Gardner Pete Hawkins

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

St. Louis, Missouri

Honored By

Carrie Vares

Relationship

Friend

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY IN 1942. BASIC TRAINING WAS HELD AT GREAT LAKES NAVAL STATION IN WISCONSIN. TRANSFERRED TO LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK FOR MORE TRAINING. PART OF THE NAVAL BEACH BATTALION NOVEMBER 1942 INVASION OF FRENCH MOROCCO, AFRICA. WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVED, THERE WERE NO SUPPLIES AND THE FIRST DAY HE COOKED IN A BLACKSMITH SHOP. IN AFRICA, THE ENEMY WAS THE VICHY FRENCH. THEN WAS STATIONED ON A TROOP SHIP AT SAFI, MOROCCO, WHERE HE INCURRED A BROKEN SHOULDER AND TORN CARTILAGE. AFTER TWO YEARS, PETE WAS FLOWN TO ST. ALBANS NAVAL HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT FOR HIS INJURIES, WHERE HE REMAINED FOR THREE MONTHS. SENT BACK TO SEA IN JANUARY 1945 ON AN ATLANTIC OCEAN DESTROYER ESCORT SHIP ESCORTING CONVOYS TO ENGLAND AND BACK. HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN DECEMBER 1945 WITH A 20 PERCENT DISABILITY.