Date of Award: January 15, 1945
Conflict: World War II
Branch: U.S. Army
At the age of 30, Pfc. Lloyd C. Hawks decided to enlist into the Army, and after only a few months, was released for being considered too old and unfit to serve in combat. But by 1942, with the U.S. deeply entrenched in World War II, Hawks was called back to duty at the position of assistant surgeon for the Army. He served with the 30th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, and stationed in Italy. He earned the Silver Star for his heroic actions in 1943, and later earned the distinguished Bronze star and Purple Heart. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military distinction, by Franklin Roosevelt for his inordinate courage under a barrage of fire in order to administer first aid to three men, suffering severe wounds in his hip and arm.
Citation: “Displaying dogged determination and extreme self-control, Pfc. Hawks, despite severe pain and his dangling left arm, completed the task of bandaging the remaining casualty and with superhuman effort dragged him to the same depression to which he had brought the first man. Finding insufficient cover for 3 men at this point, Pfc. Hawks crawled 75 yards in an effort to regain his company, reaching the ditch in which his fellow aid man was lying.”