Omar Frank Hawes was born on May 18, 1916, in Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana. He was the son of Omar H. Hawes.
He served in the 17th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, as a Sergeant during World War II. Hawes was the crew commander of an armored car M-8, of the third platoon, Troop C, 17th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 15th Cavalry Group. His platoon was ambushed at the east entrance of Dol-de-Bretagne, in a hamlet called Les Rolandières. His armored car was destroyed by a German antitank gun, killing the four members of the crew. He was Killed in Action on August 3, 1944, during the liberation of Dol-de-Bretagne. He was awarded the Purple Heart and was buried at Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-James, Departement de la Manche, Basse-Normandie, France.