World War II Honoree

Berthier B. Hawks, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Brunswick County, Virginia

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: CAPTAIN. SERVED AS COMMANDER OF CHARLIE COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 116TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 29TH INFANTRY ‘BLUE AND GRAY’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE U.S. 1ST ARMY. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 OPERATION, OVERLORD. HIS REGIMENT WAS GIVEN THE OBJECTIVE TO SPEARHEAD THE D-DAY INITIAL ASSAULT AGAINST OMAHA BEACH ON THE FRENCH COAST, GOING ASHORE WITH THE 1ST WAVE AT 06:30 HOURS. IN EARLY APRIL 1945 HIS DIVISION WAS REASSIGNED TO XVI CORPS, U.S. 9TH ARMY AND WAS KILLED IN ACTION APRIL 1945 IN GERMANY’S RUHR POCKET AREA. CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES: NORTHERN FRANCE, ‘BATTLE OF NORMANDY’, CENTRAL EUROPE AND THE RHINELAND. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO VIRGINIA FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.