The son of Brigadier General Hamilton S. Hawkins (1834–1910) and grandson of Major Hamilton S. Hawkins (1802–1847), Hawkins graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1894 and received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Cavalry Branch. Hawkins served in positions of increasing rank and responsibility in the United States and overseas, and completed professional education including the United States Army Command and General Staff College and United States Army War College. In 1912 and 1913, Hawkins took part in an exchange program that enabled him to serve in France and Germany, where he observed advances in Cavalry equipment and tactics immediately prior to the start of World War I. During the war, he served as assistant chief of staff for operations (G-3) on the staff of the 2nd Division, followed by assignment as chief of staff for the 35th Division.
After the First World War, Hawkins continued to serve in high-profile staff and command assignments, including commander of 1st Cavalry Brigade (1929–1934), 1st Cavalry Division (1934–1936), and Eighth Corps Area (1936). He retired in 1936 and resided in Washington, D.C. He was recalled to active duty for World War II, and served as a member of several administrative boards and commissions before retiring again in 1943. In retirement, Hawkins continued to reside in Washington, D.C. He died in Washington on October 19, 1950, and was buried at West Point Cemetery.
Early life
Hamilton Smith Hawkins was born at Fort Buford, North Dakota on September 25, 1872, the son of army officer Hamilton S. Hawkins and Annie (Gray) Hawkins.[1] Annie Hawkins was the sister of George Gray, a U.S. senator and federal judge from Delaware.[2] Hawkins' grandfather, also named Hamilton S. Hawkins, was a major and surgeon in the U.S. Army who died in 1847 while serving in the Mexican–American War.[1] Hawkins' sister Anne was the wife of Major General Robert Lee Howze and mother of General Hamilton H. Howze and Major General Robert L. Howze Jr.[3]
Hawkins was educated at military posts as the Hawkins family traveled for his father's career, and in 1890 received an appointment to the United States Military Academy (West Point).[2] He graduated in 1894 ranked of 24th of 54.[4] Hawkins received his commission as a second lieutenant of Cavalry and was assigned to the 4th Cavalry Regiment.[4]
Start of career
Hawkins served with the 4th Cavalry at Fort Walla Walla, Washington from September 1894 to May 1897, and at Fort Yellowstone from May 1897 to January 1899.[4] From January to June 1899, Hawkins taught mathematics at West Point.[4] In June 1899, he sailed for the Philippines for duty with the 4th Cavalry during the Philippine–American War.[4] While in the Philippines, he commanded the 4th Cavalry's Troop E during combat on the island of Luzon.[5] After returning to the United States, Hawkins performed duty at Fort Meade, South Dakota from July to November 1901, when he was assigned to temporary duty in Washington, D.C., first with the Subsistence Department, then with the Commissary Department.[5] From April 1903 to December 1905, Hawkins performed staff duty with the Department of the Colorado, including assistant to the Chief Commissary and acting Judge Advocate.[5]
From January 1906 to April 1907, Hawkins served again in the Philippines as Sales and Issue Commissary in Manila, followed by service with the 4th Cavalry at Camp Overton near the city of Iligan.[5] Upon return to the United States, he served with his regiment at Fort Meade.[5] From 1910 to 1911, Hawkins attended the Army School of the Line (now the United States Army Command and General Staff College).[6] From 1911 to 1912, he attended the Army Staff College (now the United States Army War College).[6] From October 1912 to May 1913, Hawkins served in France as an observer with the French Army's 6th Dragoons.[6] From May to October 1913, he was an observer in Germany with the 2nd Brandenberger Dragoons.[6]
Continued career
National Photo Company photograph of Hawkins as a colonel in 1923
Following the U.S. entry into World War I, in August 1917, Hawkins was posted to the 164th Depot Brigade at Camp Funston, Kansas, where he supervised military schools for the 89th Division during its initial organization and training.[6] From January to April 1918, he was an instructor at the Fort Sam Houston, Texas Field Officers' School.[6] He performed duty with the army general staff in Washington, D.C. from April to June 1918, when he departed for France.[6]
Major General Peter E. Traub (front row, third from the left) and members of his divisional staff at Sommedieue, Meuse, France, October 21, 1918. To Traub's right is Colonel Hamilton S. Hawkins, the 35th's chief of staff.
Upon arriving in France, Hawkins completed the Army Staff College at Langres, then was assigned to the 2nd Division as assistant chief of staff for operations (G-3), with which he took part in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel.[6] He was then assigned as chief of staff of the 35th Division, with which he took part in the Meuse–Argonne offensive.[6] In September and October he commanded the division's 69th Infantry Brigade during some of the war's final battles.[6] From October 1918 to April 1919, he again served as the 35th Division's chief of staff, including occupation duty in the Sommedieue sector.[6] From May to July 1919, he commanded the 1st Cavalry Regiment at Camp Harry J. Jones, Arizona.[6] In August 1919, Hawkins was posted to Fort Riley as assistant commandant of the Cavalry School.[6]
Later career
In April 1923, Hawkins was assigned to command the 3rd Cavalry Regiment at Fort Myer, Virginia.[7] In August 1926, he was assigned to Manila as chief of staff of the Philippine Division.[7] After his September 1928 return to the United States, Hawkins was assigned as commander of the 14th Infantry Brigade, a unit of the 7th Infantry based at Fort Omaha, Nebraska.[7]
Hawkins resided in Washington, D.C. after he retired.[10] He was recalled to active duty for World War II in 1941 and served on several administrative boards and commissions, including member of the panel that mediated a labor dispute at the Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast Railroad.[1][10] He retired again in 1943.[1]
In 1897, Hawkins married Helen Smith of Staunton, Virginia.[1] They were the parents of two children, daughter Anne and son Hamilton IV.[3] Hamilton S. Hawkins IV died in a polo accident in 1926, shortly before the graduation ceremony for his West Point class.[3]
"Imagination Gone Wild". The Cavalry Journal. Washington, DC: United States Cavalry Association. November–December 1938. pp. 491–497 – via Google Books.
^ abcdefLadue, William B. (April 1951). "Obituary, Hamilton S. Hawkins". Assembly. West Point, NY: West Point Association of Graduates. pp. 47–48 – via West Point Digital Library.
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