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Our History |
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After World War II was beginning to fade into history,
a group of veterans
in the Woodbridge, Occoquan and Lorton areas of Virginia gathered to form
what is now known as Hawkins-Reeve VFW Post 7916.
The Post was named after Claggett Hartwood Hawkins and Charles Douglas Reeve, two young men who lost
their lives while serving their country. |
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Claggett Hartwood Hawkins was
born in Maryland on March 21, 1922. He move to Woodbridge, VA at the age of
six. When he graduated from Occoquan School he gained employment with The
Peoples' National Bank located in Manassas, VA and remained there until
accepted by the FBI for training as an agent.
Being employed by the FBI made him exempt from military service when WWII
broke out, yet he chose to join in the defense of his country through the
National Reserves. He was assigned to preflight training as a pilot. Upon
completion of this training he received his wings and commission as a Lt.
(JG) in the Naval Reserves.
Mr. Hawkins was transferred to California where he joined Composite
Squadron 91. At Pearl Harbor the squadron changed carriers and went aboard
the USS
Kitkun Bay (CVE-71).  He was killed in the Pacific on December 6, 1944 when
his plane crashed into the sea while on a routine patrol flight. Mr. Hawkins
was 22 years old. |
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Charles Douglas Reeve was born on September 19, 1918 and raised in
the Lorton area. He attended Lorton Elementary School. After
graduating from high school he sought his education through Strayer Business College.
Mr. Reeve was employed by the Washington Gas Light Company when WWII
began. He joined the US Army Air Corp and began flight training. After
receiving his commission he trained in, and flew, medium bombers.
While stationed in the South Pacific, Mr. Reeve and his co-pilot, as
passengers, were en route to an airfield in New Guinea to recover a downed
North American B-25 Mitchell bomber.
Their plane crashed.
Although Mr. Reeve and the co-pilot survived, Mr. Reeve died due to his injuries
before they were rescued. The date was October 12, 1944. He was 26 years
old.
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If our country is
worth dying for in time of war, let us resolve that it is truly worth living
for in time of peace.
-Hamilton Fish- |
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