Posted by Sam Burney on May 29, 2012:

Hawley Oakes was one of the finest men I ever met during my Army career. He was my boss for four years, but he was more than a terrific boss...he was also a wonderful friend. I recall when I first reported for the assignment, the gentleman I was replacing said, "You are going to enjoy working for Hawley. He is a real gentleman, and his wife, Carol, is the embodiment of what an Army wife should be." Truer words were never spoken!! Hawley and Carol were "old Army" in the best sense of that term. Both of their fathers graduated from West Point around the time of the Great Depression, served with distinction in WW II, and retired during the Sixties as 3-Star generals. With such a lineage, it would have been understandable if Hawley tended toward feeling self-important, but it was quite the opposite. He was friendly, down-to-earth, and always willing to help anyone in need. At West Point, he and Carol provided friendship, guidance, and a sort of safe haven to literally dozens of cadets. At a time when female cadets were still a novelty within the Corps, and chauvinistic attitudes were not uncommon, Hawley championed their cause. He and Carol went out of their way to introduce themselves to many female cadets, got to know their families, and helped many reach the goal of graduating from West Point. If the Guinness Book of World Records had a category for "Most Gifts Bought for West Point Graduates," Hawley and Carol Oakes would surely top the list. May they rest in peace!!

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