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ORIGINAL: USS America

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Here's some Wiki information about Hawes.  The guy did his duty in exemplary fashion - note in particular his conduct at Cavite on December 10, 1941:

Somewhere in the years not mentioned in Wiki he managed to become qualified in submairnes. In that era this was generally not possible without being attached PCS to a submarine.

Moose, he did spend many years on Sub Tenders, so he likely had more opportunity than most surface warfare guys.

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Just to verify then - Hawes is in the uniform of a Lieutenant-Commander in that photo?

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Here's some Wiki information about Hawes.  The guy did his duty in exemplary fashion - note in particular his conduct at Cavite on December 10, 1941:

Somewhere in the years not mentioned in Wiki he managed to become qualified in submairnes. In that era this was generally not possible without being attached PCS to a submarine.

ORIGINAL: USS America

I'm not an expert on promotion tracks during the WWII era, Dan, but folks generally stayed in the "community" they start in. Subs, surface, or air are and were rather separated. Of course around that time the aviation community was just hitting puberty, so lots of rapid growing meant men and officers transferring in from other areas.

Once Adm. Hawes was promoted to Captain, he was above the rank where most SS or DD commanding officers live. They were mostly LCDR or CDR's. Captains would be sub squadron staff officers, or in command of larger (crew size) ships, which AS's qualify as. There were CA's, BB's, and CV's around that had Captains as their CO, but he likely didn't have the experience in air or surface combat to command them. His expertise was in submarines, and specifically salvage and repair of subs. The AS was a perfect fit. [:)]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Train carrying scrap iron in Stone Mountain, circa 1941. The sign near the front of the engine says “More Coal to Burn Hitler and Japs.”

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Rear Admiral Richard E. Hawes talks with an old friend on Jackson Street in Thompson soon after returning home from service in the Pacific Theater (circa 1946). Hawes was a Thomson native and had attended both the University of Georgia and Mercer. He enlisted in the Navy in 1917. During his time in the service, he received the Navy Cross twice and held various commands including the USS Pigeon (minesweeper), USS Chanticleer (submarine tender), and USS Antheadon (submarine tender). He passed away in Thomson in 1968 at age 74.

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
The folks at home didn’t forget that all the work and sacrifice and worry was for the troops and sailors and airmen at the front. One such was Jack Kirksey of Reynolds, Taylor County, Georgia, photographed here circa 1940. Kirksey served with John F. Kennedy aboard PT-109. He was killed in action August 1, 1943, when PT-109 was rammed by the Japanese destroyer Amigiri in the Solomon Islands.

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Thanks, gents, for the gentle corrections and additional information.

I have a question.  Why wouldn't a guy like this - who had shown bravery and ingenuity under fire - been promoted to a larger command, such as destroyers or capital ships?  He seemed to be a well-recognized leader, but he remains in command of sub tenders throughout the war.  Does that suggest there was anything "negative" about his leadership or capabilities?  Or could there be other and completely inoccuous reasons?

(With no military background whatsoever, I am clueless about these things.  If even asking the question gives offense ot military folks, pardon me and attribute it to my ignorance.)

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
"“Spittin’ Dick” Hawes had already become a legend among submariners. He had a reputation of superb loyalty to subordinates and was known for his ingenuity with men and the materials at hand.