World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Harold G. Hayes
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Greenwood County, South Carolina
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY SEPTEMBER 30, 1943 AT CAMP CROFT, SOUTH CAROLINA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO EASY COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION DECEMBER 1944 WHILE FIGHTING IN THE DEFENSE OF BASTOGNE, BELGIUM DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE CAMPAIGN. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO SOUTH CAROLINA FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART. HIS DIVISION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, A NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD AND THE BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.