Compatriot John Druse (Bud) Hawk was recently added to the John Paul Jones Chapter of the Washington State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
As the chapter’s flag chairman, I met John D. (Bud) Hawk while canvassing for flag certificates.
On April 15, JPJ President Doug Nelson and I presented “Bud” his certificate for flying his flag 24/7. During this visit it was discovered that he was from a long lineage of patriots serving this country.
His father served in WWI, grandfather in Spanish American War, great-grandfathers served in the Civil War, great-great grandfather served in the War of 1812 and his patriot ancestor Isaac Lawrence served as a Corporal in Captain John Hartwell’s Company, Colonel Dike’s Regiment. In this regiment he participated in the Battle for Bunker Hill.
You may ask why we are bringing this Compatriot to the recognition of all; well here is the history behind this man:
Sixty-nine years ago, Hawk’s heroic actions led to him being awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor. On Aug. 20, 1944, armed with only a light machine gun, Hawk helped hold back surrounded German forces attempting to breakout from their encirclement near Chambois, France. Artillery fire injured Hawk’s leg and damaged his weapon.
Despite his injury, he managed to locate another weapon and exposed himself to enemy forces in order to direct anti-aircraft fire onto the German’s position due to the distance and noise, the American firing team was unable to hear Hawk’s firing corrections.
According to his Medal of Honor Citation, Hawk ran back to the firing team “through a concentration of bullets and shrapnel” to give corrected ranges to fire. After giving this report, Hawk once again ran back to his position which, once again, exposed himself to enemy fire. He remained to direct fire until the German forces surrendered.
While serving in Europe he would also receive the Distinguished Conduct Medal from the United Kingdom. The DCM was the second-highest British award for valor given to enlisted men during WWII. By the time Hawk ended his Army career he was awarded four Purple Hearts to go along with a Bronze Star and the Medal of Honor.
President Harry S. Truman traveled to Olympia to present the Medal of Honor to Hawk on the state capitol steps. John D. “Bud” Hawk will explain that he didn’t “win” the Medal of Honor because it wasn’t a contest and there were many other people who are equally deserving of the award and that he is the recipient of it for all his fellow soldiers.
In 1945, the City of Bremerton hosted a parade on Armed Forces Day with Hawk as the Grand Marshall. He would participate in the parade for many years until his health prevented him from doing so starting in 2011. The Armed Forces Parade still continues and is the largest Armed Forces and longest continually running parade for Armed Forces.
After his war service Hawk returned to the University of Washington and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology. For more than 30 years he worked as a teacher and principal in the Central Kitsap School District.
On April 5, 2008, Hawk received the (new) Medal of Honor Flag in the Capitol Rotunda in Olympia. On Feb. 26, 2010, he was honored by the rededication of the Rolling Bay Post Office as the “John “Bud” Hawk Post Office” near where he grew up as a child. In 2011, Joint Base Lewis/McCord also honored him with their newest education center dedicated to him. The “John “Bud” Hawk Education Center” is a 31,000 square-foot education center with nine classrooms and an auditorium.