THE WALL OF FACES

CAPTAIN


JOHN HULSEY HAYS


WAS A DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE OF THE

UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY

AT WEST POINT, NEW YORK

IN THE CLASS OF 1965


WHO WAS SERVING AS

COMMANDING OFFICER OF

BRAVO TROOP

1st / 11th ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION

ON 8 NOVEMBER 1968


AND WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE


DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

PURPLE HEART MEDAL





--- DUTY - HONOR - COUNTRY ---





--- THE LONG GRAY LINE ---





YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE





"...who shall speak for the unseen dead..."





25858

You're still remembered fondly in Winter Haven.

I MET JOHN, WHILE HE WAS SERVING WITH THE 1ST SQUADRON, 2ND ACR. WE WERE STATIONED IN BINDLACH KASERNE, LOCATED IN NORTHERN BAVARIA. OUR UNIT WAS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN PATROLLING THE EAST-WEST BORDERS BETWEEN BOTH EAST GERMANY AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA. OUR SQUADRON NORMALLY HAD A COMPLEMENT OF 44 OFFICERS. WE HAD 14, DUE TO DRAW DOWNS MADE NECESSARY BY THE VIETNAM WAR.

IN 1967, HE AND I WERE THE ONLY OFFICERS IN "B" TROOP, 1ST SQDRN, 2ACR. HE WAS THE TROOP COMMANDER, AND I WAS THE "EVERYTHING ELSE" OFFICER. HE WAS A FAIR MINDED COMMANDER, WHO CARED FOR EVERYONE. TOGETHER WE RAN THE BEST TROOP IN THE REGIMENT. hE BROUGHT HIS "WEST POINT" POLISH TO THE TASK, AND I COMPLEMENTED HIM WITH MY PRIOR SERVICE EXPERIENCE AS A MARINE NCO. WE MADE A GOOD TEAM.

WHEN FACED WITH THE CHALLENGE OF ARMY TRAINING TESTS AT GRAFENWOHR; WE MADE A PLAN AND BROUGHT ALL ELEKMENTS OF OUR TROOP UP TO SPEED. DURING THE ACTUAL CONDUCT OF THE TEST WE SCORED WELL BOTH AT PLATOON LEVEL, AND AT TROOP LEVEL. MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT WE SCORED TOPS IN THE REGIMENT THAT YEAR.

JOHN HAD ONE HABIT, WAS TO PROVE HIS UNDOING. IN TACTICAL SETTINGS, HE TENDED TO EXPOSE HIMSELF TOO MUCH. DURING ONE TEST, THE UMPIRE MADE HIM A CASUALTY, AND I ASSUMED COMMAND. BECAUSE WE HAD PREPARED OURSELVES SO WELL, UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, WE DID NOT MISS A BEAT AND CONTINUED THE PROBLEM FLAWLESSLY. LATER, I SUGGESTED THAT HE SHOULD AVOID GETTING TO FAR FORWARD. I HOPE THAT HE LISTENED TO HI FORMER MARINE FRIEND. FOR A LONG TIME I HAD A FEELING THAT HE FOLLOWED HI PRACTICE OF GETTING UP FRONT, AND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN WHERE HE WAS WHEN HE GOT HIT. I ACCEPT THE FACT THAT JOHN LIKED TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, AND I KNOW HE WAS A CREDIT TO US ALL. i AM GLAD HE IS RECOGNIZED AT BOUDINOT HALL. HE WAS A FRIEND AND COMRADE, WHO I STILL MISS.

I MET JOHN, WHILE WE WERE SERVING WITH THE 1ST SQUADRON, 2ND ACR. WE WERE STATIONED IN BINDLACH KASERNE, LOCATED IN NORTHERN BAVARIA. OUR UNIT WAS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN PATROLLING THE EAST-WEST BORDERS BETWEEN BOTH EAST GERMANY AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA. OUR SQUADRON NORMALLY HAD A COMPLEMENT OF 44 OFFICERS. WE HAD ONLY 14, DUE TO DRAW DOWNS MADE NECESSARY BY THE VIETNAM WAR.

IN 1967, HE AND I WERE THE ONLY OFFICERS IN "B" TROOP, 1ST SQDRN, 2ACR. HE WAS THE TROOP COMMANDER, AND I WAS THE "EVERYTHING ELSE" OFFICER. HE WAS A FAIR MINDED COMMANDER, WHO CARED FOR EVERYONE. TOGETHER WE RAN THE BEST TROOP IN THE REGIMENT. HE BROUGHT HIS "WEST POINT" POLISH TO THE TASK, AND I COMPLIMENTED HIM WITH MY PRIOR SERVICE EXPERIENCE AS A MARINE NCO. WE MADE A GOOD TEAM.

WHEN FACED WITH THE CHALLENGE OF ARMY TRAINING TESTS AT GRAFENWOHR; WE MADE A PLAN AND BROUGHT ALL ELEKMENTS OF OUR TROOP UP TO SPEED. DURING THE ACTUAL CONDUCT OF THE TEST WE SCORED WELL BOTH AT PLATOON LEVEL, AND AT TROOP LEVEL. MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT WE SCORED TOPS IN THE REGIMENT THAT YEAR.

JOHN HAD ONE HABIT, WHICH MAY HAVE PROVEN HIS UNDOING. IN TACTICAL SETTINGS, HE TENDED TO EXPOSE HIMSELF TOO MUCH. DURING ONE TEST, THE UMPIRE MADE HIM A CASUALTY, AND I ASSUMED COMMAND. BECAUSE WE HAD PREPARED OURSELVES SO WELL, UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, WE DID NOT MISS A BEAT AND CONTINUED THE PROBLEM FLAWLESSLY. LATER, I SUGGESTED THAT HE SHOULD AVOID GETTING TO FAR FORWARD. I HOPED THAT HE LISTENED TO HIS FORMER MARINE, FRIEND. FOR A LONG TIME I HAD A FEELING THAT HE HAD CONTINUED FOLLOWING HIS PRACTICE OF GETTING UP FRONT, AND THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN WHERE HE WAS WHEN HE GOT HIT. I ACCEPT THE FACT THAT JOHN LIKED TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, AND I KNOW HE WAS A CREDIT TO US ALL. I AM GLAD HE IS RECOGNIZED AT BOUDINOT HALL. HE WAS A FRIEND AND COMRADE, WHO I STILL MISS.

I served under CPT Hays as a 1LT and Artillery Forward Observer. He was an outstanding officer and leader. As a 1LT new to Vietnam he taught me many valuable lessons both by directly coaching me and by the example he set for everyone and me under his command. In my latter military career I attempted to follow his leadership examples.

CPT Hays always remained cool and calm in combat. Even in the worst situations and firefights he never raised his voice but spoke in measured tones. This had a calming effect on those around him and helped them not to panic and to survive. In my own later tough situations I tried to emulate his approach.

He carried very deeply for the men in his command. On operations he never slept until he had checked the entire perimeter and spoken to everyone still awake and on guard. Like many others I cried the day he was killed. I had been with CPT Hays and Bravo Troop on an operation just days before he was killed in action. A new forward observer replaced me and I returned to the rear area for a new assignment. CPT Hays was commanding B Troop in a firefight when he was killed.

Outside the Patton Museum at Fort Knox, KY, there is an ACAV with his name on it and dedicated in memory of all Armor and Cavalry Troopers who lost their lives in Vietnam. This is a fitting memorial to a fine officer and a remarkable leader.