Owen C. Hawkins
Home Town: Red Oak, IA
Distinguished Service Cross
World War I
U.S. Army
General Orders No. No. 2, W.D., 1931
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Owen C. Hawkins, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Flirey, France, September 12, 1918. Sergeant Hawkins displayed great gallantry and utter disregard for his own personal safety when, single-handed, he rushed an enemy machine-gun post which he captured with 17 prisoners. Later, when his platoon commander had been wounded, he took command of the platoon and carried on with the skill and efficiency of a commissioned officer.