From the Annals of Valor — In 1943, Marines Staff Sgt. William James Bordelon of San Antonio and First Lt. William Dean Hawkins of El Paso were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroic actions in the horrific battle for Tarawa.   Bordelon landed on the beach under intense enemy fire that killed all but four men in his tractor. He remained in action even after he was hit providing cover fire for a group scaling a seawall.  Disregarding his own injuries, Bordelon went to the aid of two wounded men in the water. He was killed when he singelhandedly attacked a Japanese machine-gun position. Hawkins  was in command of a scout-sniper platoon.  His unit moved forward under heavy enemy fire and neutralized the enemy troops assaulting the main beach positions. He repeatedly risked his life to direct and lead attacks on pillboxes and enemy installations.  Hawkins was seriously wounded in the chest, but refused to withdraw.  He fought until he was mortally wounded by enemy shell fire. The airstrip on Tarawa was named Hawkins Field in his honor.