Hankins Glenwood Elmo

Name:

Glenwood Elmo Hankins

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

Unit:

116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division

Date of Death:

2015-02-07

State:

Virginia

Cemetery:

Oakwood Cemetery, Martinsville, Martinsville City, Virginia, USA

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Bronze Star, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster

Comments:

Glenwood Elmo Hankins was born on January 31, 1923, in Callands, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. He was the son of Claude Henry Hankins and Omie Maude Austin Hankins. He was married to Bernice Elizabeth Reynolds Hankins. He graduated from Martinsville High School in 1940 and enlisted in the Virginia National Guard on February 3, 1941. He served in Company H, 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division, known as the “Stonewall Brigade” and was deployed to England in 1942, where he rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant leading two 81mm mortar squads.

On June 6, 1944, he landed with the first wave at Omaha Beach and later took part in major campaigns across France and Belgium, including the Battle of the Bulge. Throughout his life, Hankins stayed closely involved with the 29th Infantry Division and served as its National Commander during the 2004 Normandy remembrance events. After completing his military service, he returned to Martinsville and worked for the United States Postal Service.

Hankins died on February 7, 2015, and is now buried in the Oakwood Cemetery, Martinsville, Martinsville City, Virginia, USA.

Source of information: www.dignitymemorial.com