This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Shaun Thomas (Underdog), OSC
to remember
Hawes, Richard (Spittin Dick), RADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Last Address Thomason
Date of Passing Dec 30, 1968
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
As he left the Western Pacific theater in January 1945, the Commander, Submarines, Philippine Sea Frontier sent Anthedon a message of thanks and good wishes, describing Commander Hawes and his men as "ever ready, ever fearless."
Hawes was promoted to Captain on March 25, 1945. On December 1, 1952 he was transferred to the retired list and promoted to Rear Admiral.
When America entered World War I in 1917, Hawes enlisted in the Navy as a Fireman Second Class. Fifteen months later he accepted a temporary appointment as an Ensign, but reverted to Boatswain (Warrant Officer) in 1920.
Interwar service
In March 1926 Hawes joined Falcon (ASR-2) as Executive Officer. While aboard Falcon he played a key role in the salvage of S-51 off Block Island, R.I. in September 1925. For his part in that difficult and dangerous operation Boatswain Hawes received his first Navy Cross. He also assisted in the salvaging of the submarine S-4, which sank off Provincetown, Mass. in December 1927.
On February 18, 1929, Hawes was commissioned an Ensign by a special act of the U.S. Congress in recognition of his services in salvaging the S-51 and S-4.
In January 1940 Lieutenant Hawes assumed command of Pigeon (ASR-6) and was serving in that role when the United States entered World War II.
Philippine Islands Campaign (1941-42)/Japanese air attacks on US vessels in Cavite
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
December / 1941
Description Japanese air attack on USS PEARY (DD-226), USS SEADRAGON (SS-194),USS SEALION (SS-195),USS BITTERN (AM-36)in Cavite, Philippines
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
December / 1941
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories On December 10, 1941 the Pigeon was docked at the Cavite Navy Yard on Manila Bay for repairs to her steering gear when Japanese warplanes attacked. Since Pearl Harbor three days before, Hawes had main steam pressure up and the full crew aboard, ready to get underway at an instant. Lashed to the minesweeper Quail (AM-15), which provided steering for both, Pigeon cleared the docks and headed for the relative safety of the bay to dodge the enemy bombs.
By this time Cavite had become a hellish inferno. After separating from Quail Hawes could see that the submarine Seadragon (SS-194) was about to be engulfed by bombs and fire in her berth. Through heavy bombing and strafing, Lieutenant Hawes maneuvered the 187-foot 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 there 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 on the Seadragon and tow her to safety.
For this heroic action, Hawes received his second Navy Cross and Pigeon was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the first warship to receive the award in World War II. Immediately after the attack Hawes found and mounted on his ship two 3-inch guns and twelve .50 caliber machine guns from the wrecked Navy Yard. By the end of December the new "gunboat" had received her second Presidential Unit Citation for shooting down several enemy planes and bombarding enemy troops. She was the only surface warship to win two Presidential Unit Citations in World War II.