Hawks' official Medal of Honor citation reads: For gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.

Two riflemen, attempting the rescue, had been forced to return to their fighting holes by extremely severe enemy machinegun fire, after crawling only 10 yards toward the casualties.

Hawks, crawled to the casualties, administered first aid to the more seriously wounded man and dragged him to a covered position 25 yards distant.

Hawks, despite severe pain and his dangling left arm, completed the task of bandaging the remaining casualty and with superhuman effort dragged him to the same depression to which he had brought the first man.

Hawks crawled 75 yards in an effort to regain his company, reaching the ditch in which his fellow aid man was lying.