World War II Honoree

Thomas F. Hayes

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Yonkers, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS MAY 19, 1942 AND COMPLETED BASIC COMBAT TRAINING AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS AS A MARINE CORPSMAN ‘MEDIC’ ASSIGNED TO A-COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 9TH MARINES, 3RD MARINE ‘FIGHTING THIRD’ DIVISION. ON FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1944 HE PARTICIPATED IN BATTLE OF GUAM (JULY 21-AUGUST 10, 1944) IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS CAMPAIGN. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION MONDAY, JULY 31, 1944 AND WAS BURIED IN AN ARMY, NAVY, MARINE CORPS BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON GUAM. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED TO HONOLULU, WITH INTERMENT IN THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC, ‘PUNCHBOWL’ HAWAII. DECORATION AND CITATION: THE MARINE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.