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Richard Ellington Hawes was born in Thomson, Ga. on 12 February 1894 and attended the Univ. of Georgia and Mercer Univ. where he excelled in sports. He passed up the bar exam to coach and play professional baseball. When the U.S. entered WWI in 1917, Hawes enlisted in the Navy and fifteen months later accepted a temporary appointment to Ensign. He reverted to Warrant Boatswain in 1920. In 1926 he joined Falcon (ASR 2) and played a key role in the salvage of S-51 off Block Island, for which he received the Navy Cross. He also assisted in the salvaging of the submarine S-4 off Provincetown, Ma. in December 1927. In 1929, Hawes was commissioned an Ensign by a special act of Congress for his role in the salvage of S-51 and S-4. In January 1940, Lt. Hawes assumed command of Pigeon (ASR 6).
On 10 December 1941 Pigeon was docked at the Cavite Navy Yard when Japanese warplanes attacked. Since Pearl Harbor, Hawes had main steam pressure up and the crew aboard, ready to get underway. Lashed to Quail (AM 15), which provided steering for both, they cleared the docks and headed for the safety of the bay. By this time Cavite had become an inferno. Seeing that the submarine Seadragon (SS 194) was about to be engulfed by bombs and fire in her berth, Lt. Hawes maneuvered Pigeon back to the flaming dock to haul the helpless submarine stern first from her berth. Another submarine and a minesweeper had just been sunk by direct hits. The heat and flames were so intense that they blistered the ship's paint, singed off body hair, and melted the brim of Hawes' cap. But Pigeon's crew managed to rig a line to Seadragon and tow her to safety, for which Hawes received his second Navy Cross and Pigeon was awarded the first Presidential Unit Citation of the war. Except for the brief periods when he was in transit or putting USS Chanticleer (ASR 7) and USS Anthedon (AS 24) into commission, Hawes spent virtually all of World War II at sea in the Pacific in command of his three ships. Like Hawes himself, his ships always had a reputation for efficiency and readiness. Hawes was promoted to Captain on 25 March 1945. On 1 December 1952 he was transferred to the retired list and promoted to Rear Admiral. Rear Admiral Hawes died at his home in Thomson, Ga. on 30 December 1968.
USS Hawes (FFG 53) is the first ship to be named in his honor. |
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This picture of USS Hawes (FFG 53) was taken on the Kennebec river in late 1984. The picture was used extensively in the commissioning literature and later. |
Howard Briggs |
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12 December 1984: the Kennebec River, Maine - A starboard view of Hawes passing an old fort on the Kennebec river while en route to sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-89-00108 by Bath Iron Works, Inc. from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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12 December 1984: the Atlantic Ocean - A bow view of Hawes underway on sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DNSC9005912 by Bath Iron Works, Inc. from the DVIC) |
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12 December 1984: the Atlantic Ocean - An elevated port bow view of Hawes underway off the coast of New England on sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-05909 by Bath Iron Works, Inc. from the DVIC) |
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12 December 1984: the Atlantic Ocean - An elevated starboard beam view of Hawes underway off the coast of New England while on sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-05913 by Bath Iron Works, Inc. from the DVIC) |
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12 December 1984: the Atlantic Ocean - A starboard bow view of Hawes underway off the coast of New England on sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-05910 by Bath Iron Works, Inc. from the DVIC) |
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12 December 1984: the Atlantic Ocean - An elevated port quarter view of Hawes underway while on sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-05918 by Bath Iron Works, Inc., from the DVIC) |
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12 December 1984: the Atlantic Ocean - An elevated port beam view of Hawes underway while on sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-05917 by Bath Iron Works, Inc. from the DVIC) |
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12 December 1984: the Atlantic Ocean - A stern view of Hawes underway off while on sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-05914 by Bath Iron Works, Inc. from the DVIC) |
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12 December 1984: the Atlantic Ocean - An elevated starboard quarter view of Hawes underway off the coast of New England on sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-05919 by Bath Iron Works, Inc. from the DVIC) |
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12 December 1984: the Kennebec River, Maine - A port bow view of Hawes returning from sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-89-00101 by Bath Iron Works, Inc. from the DVIC) |
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9 February 1985: Bath, Me. - Starboard bow view of Hawes, USS Simpson (FFG 56) and USS Elrod (FFG 55) at Bath Iron Works Shipyard. Hawes is draped with bunting in preparation for her commissioning ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-07873 by PH2 Carlos Drake from the DVIC) |
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9 February 1985: Bath, Me. - Starboard bow view of Hawes docked at Bath Iron Works Shipyard prior to its commissioning ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-07874 by PH2 Carlos Drake from the DVIC) |
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9 February 1985: Bath, Me. - A Navy and Marine Corps color guard participates in the commissioning ceremony for Hawes, being held at Bath Iron Works Shipyard. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-07876 by PH2 Carlos Drake from the DVIC) |
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9 February 1985: Bath, Me. - Lieutenant Commander Howard B. Sidman, executive officer, speaks during the commissioning ceremony for Hawes. On the platform beside him, left to right, are Senator G.J. Mitchell (D-Maine), Commodore D.F. Chandler, deputy commander, Naval Surface Force, US Atlantic Fleet and Commander T.F. Madden, the ship's first commanding officer. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-07886 by PH2 Carlos Drake from the DVIC) |
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9 February 1985: Bath, Me. - Commander Thomas F. Madden, commanding officer, speaks during the commissioning ceremony for Hawes. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-07869 by PH2 Carlos Drake from the DVIC) |
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9 February 1985: Bath, Me. - Guests of honor attending the commissioning ceremony of Hawes are, left to right: Mrs. Thomas Madden, Marion Hawes, Ruth Hawes Watson, sponsor, and Colonel Richard E. Hawes Jr., USMC (Ret.). (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-07882 by PH2 Carlos Drake from the DVIC) |
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9 February 1985: Bath, Me. - The crew of Hawes move toward the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate to go on board during its commissioning ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-07881 by PH2 Carlos Drake from the DVIC) |
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9 February 1985: Bath, Me. - Ruth Hawes Watson, sponsor, is escorted aboard Hawes at the conclusion of the commissioning ceremony being held at Bath Iron Works Shipyard. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-07887 by PH2 Carlos Drake from the DVIC) |
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undated, at Malaga, Spain |
Javier Bueno Iturbe,
Spanish Armada (Ret.) |
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18 August 1987: Bahrain, the Persian Gulf - Hawes docked in Bahrain. (Note: The hull numbers are painted gray not white.) |
Mark Letterman
Plankowner 1985-1988 |
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21 October 1987: the Persian Gulf - A starboard bow view of ships of tanker convoy No. 12 underway in the gulf. Included in the convoy are Hawes, the reflagged tanker Gas King, the guided missile cruiser USS William H. Standley (CG 32) and the amphibious assault ship USS Guadalcanal (LPH 7). (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-88-01405 by PH2(SW) Jeff Elliott from the DVIC) |
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21 October 1987: the Persian Gulf - The guided missile frigate Hawes leads the reflagged tanker Gas King, guided missile cruiser USS William H. Standley (CG 32) and an aircraft carrier through the gulf. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-88-03634 by PH2(SW) Jeff Elliott from the DVIC) |
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June 1992: at sea - A starboard bow view of Hawes underway during BALTOPS '92. Several of the other ships participating in this multinational exercise are in the background. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-92-09839 by JOC Michael Gallagher from the DVIC) |
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June 1992: An honor guard from Hawes departs after placing a memorial wreath at the Freedom Shrine. Hawes also visited ports in Estonia and Latvia after participating in BALTOPS '92. This was the first visit to these countries by a U.S. ship since 1924. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-09835 by Cdr Norris Jones from the DVIC) |
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June 1992: Policemen attempt to control the throng assembled at the gangway of Hawes. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-09837 by JOC Michael Gallagher from the DVIC) |
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June 1992: A member of the quarterdeck watch on Hawes gives a boy a lollipop before he leaves the ship. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-09836 by JOC Michael Gallagher, from the DVIC) |
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June 1992: at sea - A starboard bow view of Hawes underway during BALTOPS '92. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-09841 by JOC Michael Gallagher from the DVIC) |
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19 December 2000: Norfolk, Va. - A line handler finishes his job of helping USS Hawes tie-up pierside after returning home from a six-month Mediterranean cruise with the USS George Washington (CVN-73) Carrier Battle Group. (U.S. Navy photo #001219-N-0872M-509 by PH1 Martin Maddock from the Navy News Stand) |
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16 May 2005: Norfolk, Va. - The guided missile frigate USS Hawes (FFG 53) departs Naval Station Norfolk, Va., for a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. As a Surface Strike Group, Hawes, USS Mahan (DDG 72) and USS Mitscher (DDG 57) will participate in regional exercises with allies, conduct diplomatic port calls and respond to any contingency including those associated with the ongoing war on terrorism. The SSG can operate independently or in conjunction with other maritime forces. It is designed to be a flexible group that will provide presence with a purpose and strike power to support joint and allied forces afloat and ashore. (U.S. Navy photo #050516-N-3725R-001 by PH2 Greg Roberts from the Navy News Stand) |
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25 June 2005: Persian Gulf - The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Hawes (FFG 53) underway while participating in Operation Inspired Siren. Inspired Siren is a bilateral joint exercise between the United States and Pakistan Navies. The U.S. and Pakistan are conducting training in Maritime Security Operations, air defense, anti- submarine warfare, surface warfare, mine counter measures, electronic warfare, replenishment at sea and command and control. (U.S. Navy photo #050625-N-5526M-004 by PH1 Robert R. McRill from the Navy News Stand) |
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22 September 2005: Hawes seen berthed at Pinto Wharf, Valletta Port, Malta |
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Senglea, Malta |
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18 August 2007: Norfolk, Va. - A tugboat guides Hawes towards her pier as she returns home from a scheduled deployment. During the deployment, Hawes conducted maritime operations in support of the ongoing rotation of forward-deployed forces. (U.S. Navy photo #070818-N-9134V-020 by MC2 Flor Valerio from the Navy News Stand) |
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18 August 2007: Norfolk, Va. - Families and friends gather to greet loved ones as Hawes returns home to Naval Station Norfolk. During the deployment, Hawes conducted maritime operations in support of the ongoing rotation of forward-deployed forces. (U.S. Navy photo #070818-N-9134V-030 by MC2 Flor Valerio from the Navy News Stand) |
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18 August 2007: Norfolk, Va. - Chief Hull Technician Christopher Regal holds his son after Hawes returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., after a deployment. (U.S. Navy photo #070818-N-9134V-113 by MC2 Flor Valerio from the Navy News Stand) |
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October 2008: Stockholm, Sweden - Photos from Hawes' visit to Stockholm |
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7 October 2009: Norfolk, Va. - The guided-missile frigate USS Hawes (FFG 53) arrives at Naval Station Norfolk after a six-month deployment in the Caribbean and western Atlantic Ocean supporting Operation Carib Venture. This marks Hawes' first counter narcotics deployment to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. Hawes also participated in several multi-national exercises with maritime forces from Great Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Colombia. (U.S. Navy photo #091007-N-1928H-066 by MC2 Santos Huante, from the Navy News Stand) |
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