On 12 October 2000, "Hawes" was involved, along with , in providing repair and logistics support to , shortly after she was attacked in Aden, Yemen. Two al-Qaeda terrorists brought an inflatable Zodiac-type speedboat that carried a bomb alongside guided missile destroyer "Cole", while the ship refueled, and detonated their lethal cargo, killing 17 sailors and wounding 42 more. The crewmember's heroic damage control efforts saved "Cole". "Hawes", Cmdr. J. Scott Jones in command, joined (13 October – October) other ships that took part in Operation Determined Response to assist "Cole" including: amphibious assault ship ; dock landing ship ; amphibious transport dock ; guided missile destroyer "Donald Cook"; and the Military Sealift Command-operated tug ; along with British frigates and . The Navy subsequently enhanced global force protection training during crucial transits, and sailors qualified to fire M60 and Browning .50 caliber M2 machine guns to defend against assaults by low-slow flying aircraft and small boats.