Charles Francis Hobbins was born at Lakeview, Nevada, August 4th, 1889. He spent practically all of his life in Nevada, and was a graduate of the State University. During his college life he was active in the mining college and served as major in the cadet battalion. He graduated with the Class of 1911. Thereafter he followed his profession as mining engineer for several years in Nevada. When the war broke out, he tried to enter the first Officer’s Training Camp, but was a few days late in applying. However, he was accepted for the second camp, in August, 1917, from which he was assigned to Company L, 362d Infantry, 91st Division.

Lieutenant Hobbins went overseas with his regiment on July 5th, 1918. He served at St. Mihiel, where the 91st was in reserve, (September 12-15) and was with the command when it took its place in the line for the Meuse-Argonne Offensive (September 26th). On the last named date he was taken from his company and assigned to Company C, then in the advance. Four days later (September 30, 1918), while serving with Company C, he was killed in action at a point south of Gesnes. He was buried in the Argonne National Cemetery at Romagne.

An extract, taken from one of the many letters written by brother officers of Lieutenant Hobbins, will illustrate in what high esteem he was held in the 362d. It was written by Captain Allen Fletcher who commanded Company L of that regiment; “I think without doubt he was the finest officer and finest character I have ever known. The men adored him and would go anywhere or do anything for him, knowing that he would sacrifice his life for them if need be. I used to feel doubt about the way some officers would behave in the face of the enemy, but never had the least feeling of doubt about Frank. . . . He came nearer, in my mind, to being the modern conception of Bayard, ‘the gentle knight without fear and without reproach,’ than any man I have ever met, and on that account was, to my mind, the ideal type of officer, soldier and gentleman. The heroic officer left his father, Charles Hobbins, of 829 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada, his brother, Sergeant Thomas Hobbins, formerly of the A. E. F., and two sisters, the Misses Helen and Alice Hobbins. In him, Washoe County gave to Nevada and the Nation a brave, true American soldier.