Harry Ellis Hayes

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Harry Ellis Hayes
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Harry Ellis Hayes was born Saturday November 10,
1945 in Alexander City, Alabama.
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He was an extremely active young man engaging in
all the sports he could including Pee- Wee
Football.
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He graduated from West Point Military Academy in
1968 and immediately began his service.
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From West Point he was stationed at Thua Thien
Hue, right on the border between North Vietnam
and South Vietnam.
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He became a First Lieutenant in the B CO, 2ND BN,
506TH INF RGT, 101 ABN DIV units.
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He was also a member of the 101 Airborne
Division, a army Ranger, and in addition to
leading ground troops he would also be
responsible for aerial missions.
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After being dropped in the Thua Thien Hue
Province he was faced with what was to be his
most trying encounter.
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Hayes was ambushed on a patrol mission March 31,
1970 where he was mortally wounded.
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For the families sake, however, the body was
recovered and was brought back home to be
properly buried.
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Regrettably Hayes was not the only causality that
day, a dog handler and his dog also died that
fateful day in the jungle.
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During the attack, however, Hayes showed
outstanding bravery, by subjecting himself to
enemy fire to ensure that his troops got the
correct orders.
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For his tremendous bravery he was awarded the
Bronze Star, which is one of the highest awards
presented.
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By giving up his own life he saved the lives of
countless other men in his platoon.
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Now after almost 40 years Hayes memory lives on
through the men whose lives he saved and his name
sits proudly on the Vietnam Memorial on Panel 12W
Line 062.
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Bibliography Page

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• http//www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/vietnam/vietphoto
  s/01.jpg.jpg

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