LEUT J. C. Buchanan, (RAN Helicopter Flight-Vietnam), was awarded the DFC for conspicuous gallantry while rescuing a disabled patrol boat which was drifting close to enemy positions near U Minh, and was in danger of being captured. LEUT Buchanan hooked the landing skids of his helicopter on to the patrol boat and towed it clear.
HMAS Hawk paid off into operational reserve having steamed 193,867 nautical miles in RAN service. Hawk remained in the Reserve Fleet until 1976, when she was sold and broken up for salvage at Maclean on the Clarence River, northern NSW.