Lee Hawkins

"Lee Hawkins was born in Estill County on June 3, 1909 to Stephen E. and Pearl Miller Hawkins. He grew up in West Irvine and attended the Berea Foundation School and graduated from Estill County High School. He played football and as an eager patriot attempted to join the Army 16. Lee was nearly 6 feet tall, weighed 180 pounds and was big for his age. He told the Army he was 21 and he was sent to Hawaii. Soon his youth caught up with him in the form of homesickness, he wrote his mother and asked that she write to the Army explaining that Lee was too young for military service. After 10 months he was sent home to Estill County.

During these 10 months of service he and another soldier were chauffeured by Omar Bradley, a major at the time, was hauling targets to a practice field “Bradley loaded the two of us into the back seat of his 1923 Hudson – we sat in the back like we were big brass”, Hawkins stated in a 1983 article featured in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The article told of Mr. Hawkins military service as a company commander of the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The 442nd was the most decorated unit of its size in U.S. military history. Organized in 1943 the unit consisted of only Japanese-American enlisted men who volunteered. Approximately 700 Japanese-Americans died in action with the 442nd. “They fought with prejudice all their lives” Hawkins is quoted as saying in the Herald-Leader article, “they were so aggressive in battle that they couldn’t help getting medals…they were the best soldiers I ever worked with” In 1999 a group of Hawkins’ men visited Estill County to bring flowers to his grave for Memorial Day. They described Hawkins as “a kind and compassionate captain.” In an article in the Citizen Voice & Times in 1999, one of the visiting veterans said, while wiping tears from his eyes, that “the captain was a wonderful captain.”

Hawkins and his unit fought in the campaign north of Rome and were the service company responsible for bringing food, kitchen equipment, ammunition and other supplies to the front lines. Without these vital supplies the army cannot do its job. Outside of Biffontaine, France the 442nd rescued “the Lost Battalion” also known as the Texas 36th Division. The Germans had completely cut off the 36th Division for eight days and when traditional efforts to save the unit failed the 442nd was sent in and rescued the 36th. The 442nd suffered 800 casualties both wounded and killed. “They had two big fights” Hawkins stated in the Herald-Leader article, “One was with the Germans; the other was to prove themselves as good Americans”. The 1951 movie “Go for Broke” was based on the 442nd’s bravery. In a book given to Mr. Hawkins by his men one wrote, “You have truly been ‘an officer and a gentleman’…you tempered your orders and suggestions with restraint and judgment, with full understanding and appreciation of the difficulties which were ahead.”

Lee Hawkins was discharged in 1945 and returned to Estill County but returned to military service with the National Guard after only a few months. He was in charge of reorganizing and leading the Ravenna National Guard, a post he held until 1951. Hawkins also taught welding and auto-body repair for the Central Kentucky area vocational schools and the Manpower Program.

A true man of many talents, he taught himself woodworking and enjoyed building furniture out of cherry and walnut. He made rocking chairs for his grandchildren as well as bedroom sets. Mr. Hawkins also liked to paint, was a wonderful public speaker and baked a mean fruitcake and zucchini bread. He also experimented with homemade wine. He spent time in Florida where he loved to fish and spend time with his wife, Elsie Winkler Hawkins, to whom he was married for 47 lovely years. Elsie and Lee had 3 children, Linda Hawkins Woolery, Linda Hawkins Calmes and Steve Hawkins, 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Lee Hawkins died on February 27, 1987." - From Lee Hawkins Estill County Hall of Honor Induction, 2011, As viewed 10/19/20 at [1].