Jack Hawkins (U.S. Marine Corps officer)

Jack Hawkins
Jack Hawkins
Nickname(s)	Colonel Frank
Born	October 25, 1916; Roxton, Texas, U.S.
Died	May 17, 2013 (aged 96); Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S.
Buried	Quantico National Cemetery, Quantico, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1939–1965
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	1st Battalion, 2nd Marines; 1st Battalion, 1st Marines
Battles/wars	World War II Philippines campaign (1941–1942) Battle of Bataan; Battle of Corregidor; ; Philippine resistance against Japan; Battle of Okinawa; Korean War Battle of Inchon; Battle of Chosin Reservoir; Cold War Bay of Pigs Invasion;
Awards	Navy Commendation Medal with «V»

Jack L. Hawkins (October 25, 1916 – May 17, 2013) was a

CIA for the military planning, training of Cuban exiles, and the effective military command of forces in the Bay of Pigs Invasion

of Cuba in April 1961. Hawkins was known by the alias John Haskins.

Biography

Jack Hawkins graduated as a

Fourth Marines in Shanghai and in the Philippines when the regiment was transferred there in late 1941.^[3]

During World War II, he saw service in the Philippines at the Battle of Bataan and was taken prisoner by Japanese armed forces after the Battle of Corregidor. Initially sent to a prison camp on Luzon, he was later transferred to another prison camp on Mindanao where conditions were somewhat better.^[3] The new prison camp was actually a pre-war convict facility on a plantation. Eventually, he and two other POWs, one of whom was William Dyess, planned an escape.^[4]^: 166 However, the need for additional expertise in their post-escape plans brought the total number of Americans in the group to ten, including Samuel Grashio and Austin Shofner. Then they enlisted the help of two Filipinos who had been imprisoned before the war as convicts to serve as guides. The escape was successful and the two Filipinos eventually received pardons for their assistance.^[3]

The group moved through dangerous swamps for several days and eventually stumbled upon a guerrilla unit. This unit passed the Americans on to other bands until the escapees eventually were led to Colonel Wendell Fertig, who commanded the American-Filipino guerrillas on Mindanao.^[3] Hawkins served with the guerrillas for seven months. He led raiding parties in attacks against Japanese forces, before traveling to Australia via submarine in November 1943. Hawkins received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in the Philippines during the period 4 April - 15 November 1943.^[5] In 1961, Hawkins authored a book, Never Say Die, on his POW and guerrilla experiences.

In 1945, Hawkins was involved in the planning of the U.S. invasion of Japanese-held territory in the Battle of Okinawa. Author Don Bohning states that Hawkins was not involved in planning for the Battle of Iwo Jima.^[6]

Post war

Following World War II, he served as a member of the Naval Mission to

Little Creek, Virginia. He served for three years as an instructor on amphibious landings in Marine Corps schools at Quantico.^[7]

Bay of Pigs Invasion

On the recommendation of Marine Corps Commandant General

Miami, he instructed the combatants via radio links relayed via US Navy ships, aiming to defeat Cuban government forces in the conflict. He retired from the Marines in 1965.^[8]^[9]

Footnotes

^ "Death Record". genealogy bank. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
^ "Jack Hawkins". http://fredericksburg.com/. 22 May 2013. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013. {{cite news}}: External link in |newspaper= (help)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Hawkins. 1961. Never Say Die.
^ Dyess, W.E., 1944, The Dyess Story, New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons
^ ^a ^b "Jack Hawkins - Recipient - Military Times Hall Of Valor". valor.militarytimes.com.
^ Bohning (2005), pp. 14-18
^ "Biography: Jack Hawkins". Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
^ Kornbluh (1998)
^ Wyden (1979)