Medal of Honor Recipient William "Hawk" Hawkins was born at Fort Scott, Kansas, on April 19, 1914, and shortly afterward his family moved to El Paso, Texas. Hawkins skipped the fifth grade and graduated from high school at age sixteen. He attended the Texas School of Mines (University of Texas at El Paso) on a scholarship. He was opposed to war, but joined the Marine Corps shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Hawkins was commissioned a First Lieutenant after the campaign in the Solomon Islands. On November 20, 1943, Hawkins commanded the 2nd Scout-Sniper Platoon, which was the first to land on Betio Island, in the Tarawa Atoll. Hawkins was the first on the beach, clearing a pier of enemy snipers to protect Marines landing on the main beaches. Throughout the day and night Hawkins led attacks on enemy pillboxes and fortifications with grenades and demolition charges.

At dawn the following day, Hawkins led an assault on an enemy position protected by five machine guns by slowly crawling forward until he was able to fire point-blank into the pillbox, finally destroying it with grenades. He was seriously injured in the chest during this action, but continued fighting; destroying three more enemy pillboxes before an exploding shell killed him. For his bravery over the course of November 20 and 21, Hawkins was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

His citation reads "For valorous and gallant conduct above and beyond the call of duty. The first to disembark from the jeep lighter, 1st Lt. Hawkins unhesitatingly moved forward under heavy enemy fire at the end of the Betio Pier, neutralizing emplacements in coverage of troops assaulting the main beach positions. Fearlessly leading his men on to join the forces fighting desperately to gain a beachhead, he repeatedly risked his life throughout the day and night to direct and lead attacks on pillboxes and installations with grenades and demolitions. At dawn on the following day, 1st Lt. Hawkins resumed the dangerous mission of clearing the limited beachhead of Japanese resistance, personally initiating an assault on a hostile position fortified by five enemy machineguns, and, crawling forward in the face of withering fire, boldly fired pointblank into the loopholes and completed the destruction with grenades. Refusing to withdraw after being seriously wounded in the chest during this skirmish, 1st Lt. Hawkins steadfastly carried the fight to the enemy, destroying 3 more pillboxes before he was caught in a burst of Japanese shellfire and mortally wounded. His relentless fighting spirit in the face of formidable opposition and his exceptionally daring tactics served as an inspiration to his comrades during the most crucial phase of the battle and reflect the highest credit upon the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country".

After Betio Island was secured, the airstrip constructed there was named in his honor. The USS William Dean Hawkins, a destroyer, was also named in his honor.

Bibliography: "Above and Beyond: The Medal of Honor in Texas," Capitol Visitors Center, State Preservation Board of Texas.