Every Veteran Has a Story: L.B. Hawkins

Private L.B. Hawkins
World War I - Company D, 317 Ammunition Train
92 Infantry Division - Buffalo Soldiers

January 27, 2022 - L. B. Hawkins was born January 5 in the far East Texas town of Timpson, Shelby County as the new year of 1895 began. His parents Nettie Reese and George Hawkins, both native Texans were married in Rusk County, Texas in the year 1883. Known siblings were two brothers, Clifton and Jewel along with four sisters, Pauline, Anna, Annaisie and Lemmie. Father George worked as Farmer on the land they rented and no doubt all the children had assigned chores to help out.

With the United States declaring war on Germany on April 6, 1917, nearly three years after the World War began in Europe, a national army was needed and the Selective Service Act of 1917 provided for this through conscription. The first of three draft registrations was held on June 5, 1917 for men between the ages of 21 and 30. L. B. now age 22 complied at Precinct 16 in Shelby County. His registration showed; he was employed as a Tailor by J. B. Noble in Timpson; single; claimed no exemption to the draft; was of medium built and height with brown eyes and black hair; and of the negro race.

Ten months later Uncle Sam came calling and L. B. was inducted at the county seat of Center, Texas on April 28, 1918, age 23. He and other African American inductees were sent to Camp Funston (Fort Riley), Kansas to join the 92 Infantry Division that had been organized there in November 1917. The entire enlisted personnel of the 92 Division was made up entirely of African Americans and represented almost all of the States in the Union. The Staff and Field Officers with few exceptions were white and the remainder of the commissioned personnel, about four-fifths of the whole, were colored and mostly inexperienced.

Following basic and other training the division was ordered overseas in May 1918 to join the American Expeditionary Forces in France. Before leaving, the American buffalo was selected as the divisional insignia due to the “Buffalo Soldiers” nickname that was given to African American cavalrymen in the 19 Century. On June 15 Private Hawkins departed the Port of Hoboken, New Jersey with Company D, 317 Ammunition Train aboard the USS Covington. He named his father, George Hawkins of Timpson, Texas as next of kin. Upon reaching France via Liverpool, England some eleven days later, the Ammunition Train went into training at Montmorrillon in the department of Vienne in support of artillery units. Ammunition Trains were responsible for transporting the artillery and infantry ammunition of each division from the refilling point to the area of engagement. The train could have been a literal train but in most cases it was a horse-drawn wagon or motor vehicle. Due to racial doctrine of the time, the 92 Division could not serve in combat with other white units and were fed into the French sector front lines in August 1918. The division saw combat in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive that lasted from September 26 to the Armistice of November 11, 1918 that ended the World War.

Immediately following the armistice the Buffalo Soldiers were named to embark for the United Sates in the first available transportation. Private Hawkins and the 317 Ammunition Train departed Brest, France on February 22, 1919 aboard the SS Aquitania. He named Mother Nettie as next of kin. They arrived at the Port of New York on February 28 and were transported to Camp Upton, New York for discharge processing. Honorably discharged March 19, L. B. Hawkins was once again a civilian and in a period of nine months saw and experienced more than most do in a lifetime.

Returning to civilian life his whereabouts is sketchy until the 1930 census that finds him married to Mattie Sigler and living in Humble, Harris County, Texas. There are four children, Nettie Louise age 9, George age 8, Clarence age 4 and newborn John. His widowed father George now age 62 is also living with him along with brother-in-law Jerry Sigler. L. B. has returned to his previous employment as a Tailor working in a tailor shop.

He was 44 years old when the next decade of 1940 began. Along with wife Mattie, children Nettie, George, Clarence and John are living with him on Bordersville Street in Humble. Grandson Edward Creswell and granddaughter Shirley Parker are also part of the family. He and his wife both have elementary educations and two of the children are in school. Working as a presser in a tailor shop L. B. worked 60 hours in the last week of March 1940 and in 1939 earned $600 (11,400 today). He also worked the entire 52 weeks of the year.

As the new year of 1941 began, L. B. became ill and entered Jefferson Davis Hospital in Houston where he died January 23 of pneumococcal meningitis that is an infection and inflammation of the membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain. He was buried in the Calvary Hill Cemetery, Humble at the young age of 46. His wife Mattie would join him there in 1991. Day is done, God is nigh.