World War II Honoree

William Charles Hawes

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Hood River, Oregon

Honored By

Lisa Hawes

Relationship

Daughter

HE WAS ALREADY A MEMBER OF THE OREGON NATIONAL GUARD AT THE TIME OF PEARL HARBOR. HIS UNIT FORMED PART OF THE 163RD INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THE 41ST INFANTRY DIVISION AND WAS IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYED TO THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR. HE TRAINED IN JUNGLE WARFARE IN AUSTRALIA IN EARLY 1942 AND THEN PARTICIPATED IN BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS IN NEW GUINEA, PAPUAN AND THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. AFTER THE RE-CONQUEST OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN SPRING 1945, HE SHIPPED HOME AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON STATE, AFTER SERVING 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS, AND 25 DAYS.