Army Private Hanniton Watts was born on December 28, 1919, however very little is known about his family or upbringing. We do know that he would marry Luebirta (Wynn) Rogers in 1942 in Pensacola, Florida. She was the daughter of Charles Buck Wynn Sr. (1891-1953) and Josephine Hudson (1891-). Her father was born in Cottondale, Florida and employed at NAS as a laborer in 1918. Luebirta would marry a military veteran by the name of Ulysses C. Rogers on March 3, 1928 in Pensacola. Ulysses came to Pensacola from Evergreen, Alabama in 1919 and would pass away in 1968. Her father and two brothers Acy (1904-1979) and Charles B. Wynn Jr. (1912-1991) would pass away here as well.
Luebirta and Hanniton would marry in Pensacola in 1942 not long before he enlisted in the US Army on January 20, 1943. He was sent to Camp Blanding, Florida for processing before entering basic training. He was assigned to a Field Artillery battalion however the unit was never identified but we do know that he was stationed in the South Pacific theater. The hospital report indicates that Hanniton's death on May 23, 1944 was due to an artillery explosion not related to combat with the enemy. He was rushed to a field hospital where the diagnosis was peritoneum and edema of the lungs due to artillery fragments. The medical information appears to indicate an accidental explosion from an artillery shell, which was not that uncommon during the war. Regardless, Hanniton gave his life while serving his country in her time of need. Afterwards, he was sent to the graves registration unit and processed for burial in a temporary military cemetery.
Luebirta received the news of his death from the War Department at her home at 1122 North "I" Street. She was working as a cook at the time for Mary E. McKinney at the Barge's Cafe at 307 North Tarragona Street. By November 4, 1945, an American Legion Post #193 had been organized in his honor and today stands at 2708 North 12th Avenue.
In February 1948, Hanniton's remains were disinterred per Luebirta's request and brought home aboard the SS Cardinal O'Connell in February 1948. After processing, he was buried in Barrancas Cemetery on March 5, 1948. Luebirta would never remarry and passed away on March 9, 1966 and joined him at Barrancas.
Comments