World War II Honoree

William D. Hawes

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Marlow, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AS A FIREMAN SECOND CLASS ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS NEVADA (BB-36). HE WAS ABOARD SHIP, WHICH WAS ANCHORED OFF FORD ISLAND ON BATTLESHIP ROW AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, AT THE TIME OF THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. HE AND A SHIPMATE WERE MANNING A POWER GENERATOR ON THE 5TH DECK WHEN THE FIRST TORPEDO STRUCK HIS SHIP. THE EXPLOSION KNOCKED HIM ABOUT AND TURNED GOLF-BALL SIZE RIVETS IN THE HULL INTO DEADLY FLYING MISSILES. WATER IMMEDIATELY BEGAN POURING INTO HIS COMPARTMENT AND HE AND OTHERS TRIED TO STOP THE FLOW USING EVERYTHING AVAILABLE INCLUDING MATTRESSES. THE SHIP WAS STRUCK BY 2-3 BOMBS BUT FORTUNATELY WAS MOORED BY ITSELF AND WAS ABLE TO GET UNDERWAY DURING THE ATTACK. SHE WAS HIT BY MORE BOMBS FROM THE SECOND WAVE OF JAPANESE PLANES DURING HER ATTEMPT TO REACH THE OPEN SEA AND WAS BEACHED AT HOSPITAL POINT. AFTER THE ATTACK, HE PARTICIPATED IN THE RECOVERY OF THE VICTIMS WHICH BROUGHT HOME THE HUMAN TOLL AND SACRIFICES OF THOSE PRESENT ON THE OPENING DAY OF WWII.