World War II Honoree

James Orland Hays

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Monroe City, Missouri

Honored By

Jane A. Ayers

Relationship

Daughter

JOINED THE ARMY ON MARCH 27, 1941. AFTER BASIC TRAINING, ATTACHED TO THE 43RD ENGINEER GENERAL SERVICE REGIMENT, 2ND BATTALION, COMPANY F. BY JANUARY 23, 1942, WAS PART OF TASK FORCE 6814 LEAVING NEW YORK PORT FOR MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA ARRIVING FEBRUARY 26, 1942. THE 43RD ENGINEERS BUILT AIRFIELDS IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA UNTIL MID-SUMMER 1942. ON JULY 11, 1942, THE 43RD WAS TRANSFERRED TO MILNE BAY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA TO SUPPORT AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY DIVISIONS AND CONTINUE BUILDING AIRFIELDS. BY AUGUST 22, 1942, AIRFIELD NUMBER 3 WAS COMPLETE. THE JAPANESE INVADED MILNE BAY ON AUGUST 25, 1942 AND ATTACKED AIRSTRIP NUMBER 3 ON THE 27TH AND 28TH OF AUGUST 1942. BOTH ATTACKS WERE REPELLED, WITH GREAT LOSS TO THE JAPANESE. THE BATTLE OF MILNE BAY LASTED FOR 10 DAYS AND WAS THE FIRST ALLIED VICTORY OF WWII. THE 43RD ENGINEERS REMAINED AT MILNE BAY UNTIL TRANSFERRED WEST TO THE BUNA AIRFIELD AREA IN EARLY 1943. THEY RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA AND ON MAY 9, 1944 WERE DESIGNATED AS THE 43RD ENGINEER CONSTRUCTION BATTALION. REQUESTED BY C. G. KREUGER, AND THE 6TH US ARMY, THE 43RD ENGINEERS PARTICIPATED IN THE SANSAPOR, NEW GUINEA INVASION OF JULY 1944. AWARDS INCLUDE THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (MILNE BAY). RETURNED TO THE U.S. APRIL 25, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A TECHNICIAN 4TH GRADE ON JUNE 8, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE EAST INDIES, PAPUA AND NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGNS AND THE FIRST ALLIED VICTORY OF WWII AT MILNE BAY.