WWII veteran and war hero John “Bud” Hawk worked as a teacher and principal in Washington state for 31 years. Photo Credit: Dignity Memorial

Many excellent educators have also served our country in the military. One of these is John “Bud” Hawk, a teacher and principal who served valiantly in the US Army during World War II.

John was born on May 30, 1924, in San Francisco, California. When he was in the third grade, his family relocated to Bainbridge Island, Washington state, a place that John always considered home. He graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1943, and two weeks later he joined the US Army.

This intrepid soldier served in Europe as a sergeant in Company E, 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, serving under then Lt. General George S. Patton. While there, John sustained injuries during a battle against the German army near Chamois, France. During this battle, John fought off German soldiers with his machine gun before an artillery shell destroyed it and wounded his right thigh. He found a bazooka and helped force German tanks into a forest. He regrouped two machine gun squads and built a working gun out of two damaged ones. Later in the battle, John braved gunfire at the top of a knoll to help tank destroyers sight their targets. Because the destroyer crews couldn’t hear his directions, Hawk ran back and forth several times to correct their range until two of the tanks were destroyed, a third retreated and 500 German soldiers surrendered.

For this heroic action, John earned a Medal of Honor from Pres. Harry Truman in 1945. During his years in the military, the future teacher was awarded no less than four Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star, and a Distinguished Conduct Medal from the United Kingdom. Later John was inducted into the French Legion of Honor.

After the war and his discharge, John returned to Washington state, where he enrolled at the University of Washington. There he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology. For the next 31 years, the military veteran worked as a teacher and principal in the Central Kitsap School District. He retired from the teaching profession in 1983.

Sadly, John Hawk passed away on Nov. 4, 2013. He was 89 years old. To honor him, Jackson Park Elementary School in Bremerton was renamed John D. “Bud” Hawk Elementary School.

Educator and administrator Dr. Marvin Nottingham was also a World War II veteran who saw battle at Iwo Jima. Photo Credit:

Many outstanding classroom teachers have served their country admirably in the military . One of these is Dr. Marvin Nottingham, a teacher and administrator originally from Wyoming who was also a World War II veteran.

Marvin was born on August 16, 1925, in Sheridan, Wyoming, and raised in Big Horn. As a young man, he worked on a cattle ranch in his native state. After his high school graduation, he served in the US military in the 133rd CB Battalion (this unit is often called the SeaBees). He fought valiantly on Iwo Jima, where he was a D8 bulldozer operator, pulling boats and troops out of the water surrounding the island. For his actions in that battle, Marvin earned a Bronze Star for his valor. In fact, until his passing, he was one of the last survivors of that fated battle.

Once he was discharged from the service, Marvin earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. He earned his Master’s degree from San Diego University and his PhD in Education from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1970.

Marvin inaugurated his career in education when he accepted a position as a teacher of chemistry, physics, and math. He also coached basketball. He spent 11 years in the classroom. Then he was promoted to the position of Vice Principle at Coronado High School in San Diego. He then went on to serve as a principal at both Hemet High School and Palm Springs High School. He also served as an Area Superintendent for the Norwalk—La Mirada school District. He worked his way up to a position as a professor of educational administration at USC, and then served as Department Chair at the University of Idaho at Moscow. His career as an educator spanned 40 years.

After his retirement, Marvin continued to contribute to the educational community. He served as the President of the Educational Foundation and as the President of the Retired Teachers Association. He also devoted nearly 20 years to the Valley Restart Homeless Shelter.

During his lifetime, Marvin authored three books. His first two books, Once a Cowboy and Victor and Connections to Pacific Spiny Lobster: Tales of Land and Sea, were memoirs, and his third book, Principles for Principals, described his educational pedagogy.

Marvin Nottingham passed away on March 26, 2024, in Hemet, California. He was 98 years old. He was interred in Riverside National Cemetery, a burial place reserved for veterans, in Riverside, California.

To learn more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to an article about him published in the Cowboy State Daily in 2023.