Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Navy and Marine Corps Medal

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Steward Third Class

    Action Date:

    August 11, 1944

    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 334 (January 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (Posthumously) to Steward Third Class John Bell Hawkins (NSN: 6714472), United States Naval Reserve, for heroic conduct when the rowboat in which he and three small boys were rowing was violently rocked by a passing launch near Plymouth, England, on 11 August 1944. One of the boys fell overboard, and Steward Third Class Hawkins jumped in the water despite his inability as a swimmer and struggled to save his young companion. He managed to keep the boy’s head above water until a rescue boat arrived, but was lost himself before the rescuers could reach him.