Husband of Wilma Mae Hawk who resided in Washington, D.C.

Arthur served as a Seaman Second Class, U.S.C.G.C. Escanaba (WPG-77), U.S. Coast Guard, during World War II.

He resided in the District Of Columbia prior to the war.

On June 10, 1943 the Escanaba began escorting her last convoy, GS-24 from Narsarssuak to St. John's, Newfoundland, in company with the Mojave (Flag), Tampa, Storis, and Algonquin. The vessels they were tasked to escort were USAT Fairfax and the tug USS Raritan.

On June 13th the Escanaba apparently hit a mine causing her to sink very quickly. Out of the crew of 105 only 2 survivors were rescued, Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Melvin A. Baldwin and Seaman 1st Class Raymond F. O'Malley, Jr. The remains of Executive Officer Lt. Robert Henry Prause, Jr were also found.

Arthur was declared "Missing In Action" when the Escanaba sunk.

He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Service # 655118

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Historical Note:

The U.S.C.G.C. Escanaba (WPG-77), on February 3, 1943, participated in the rescue of the survivors of the S.S. Dorchester, which had been torpedoed by a German submarine.

The rescue was marked by the Escanaba's historic first use of rescue swimmers clad in survival suits to aid survivors who were too weakened by shock or hypothermia in the icy water to pull themselves up cargo nets or sea ladders to the safety and warmth of rescuers' ships, or even to hold on to ropes cast to them from the rescue vessel.

By way of the lines the rescue swimmers tied around those who were having trouble helping themselves, many struggling survivors who, debilitated by the cold, would have otherwise been consigned to a watery grave were able to be hauled aboard the Escanaba by crewmen on deck.

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

Special thanks to:
ShaneO for submitting this record for bio updates!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Husband of Wilma Mae Hawk who resided in Washington, D.C.

Arthur served as a Seaman Second Class, U.S.C.G.C. Escanaba (WPG-77), U.S. Coast Guard, during World War II.

He resided in the District Of Columbia prior to the war.

On June 10, 1943 the Escanaba began escorting her last convoy, GS-24 from Narsarssuak to St. John's, Newfoundland, in company with the Mojave (Flag), Tampa, Storis, and Algonquin. The vessels they were tasked to escort were USAT Fairfax and the tug USS Raritan.

On June 13th the Escanaba apparently hit a mine causing her to sink very quickly. Out of the crew of 105 only 2 survivors were rescued, Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Melvin A. Baldwin and Seaman 1st Class Raymond F. O'Malley, Jr. The remains of Executive Officer Lt. Robert Henry Prause, Jr were also found.

Arthur was declared "Missing In Action" when the Escanaba sunk.

He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Service # 655118

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Historical Note:

The U.S.C.G.C. Escanaba (WPG-77), on February 3, 1943, participated in the rescue of the survivors of the S.S. Dorchester, which had been torpedoed by a German submarine.

The rescue was marked by the Escanaba's historic first use of rescue swimmers clad in survival suits to aid survivors who were too weakened by shock or hypothermia in the icy water to pull themselves up cargo nets or sea ladders to the safety and warmth of rescuers' ships, or even to hold on to ropes cast to them from the rescue vessel.

By way of the lines the rescue swimmers tied around those who were having trouble helping themselves, many struggling survivors who, debilitated by the cold, would have otherwise been consigned to a watery grave were able to be hauled aboard the Escanaba by crewmen on deck.

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

Special thanks to:
ShaneO for submitting this record for bio updates!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~