Tec5 Denzel Odes Hayes (WWII)


Tec5 Denzel Odes Hayes was born April 13, 1918 in Curtisville, WV (outside of Mannington) to Charles and Rosa (Williams) Hayes. Denzel had five older sisters (including one who died at birth), four older brothers, and one younger brother.

The 1920 census places the family at a farm near Buffalo Creek, and Charles working on a farm as part of a driving team. By 1930, they were living at Glade Fork Road (still in the Curtisville area). Rosa died in 1935. They continued living there through the 1940 census, with Charles working as a farm owner and operator for the duration of the time. During the 1940 census, Denzel's brother Harry was also working as a kiln placer in the Sanitary Pottery business-- likely working for Bower's Pottery.

Denzel registered for the draft on October 30, 1940. He listed himself as 6' and 140 lbs, with blue eyes, blonde hair, and a scar on his right knee cap. His employer was listed as the Civilian Conservation Corps, Company 3527 out of Morgantown.

Company 3527 of the Civilian Conservation Corps (1936-1942) is responsible for the creation of the majority of structures at Coopers Rock State Park, including the iconic overlook and overlook bridge, but also a variety of pavilions (most since then renovated), the Rock City Chalet, and the Trading Post which was originally created as a cabin for park staff (Clio). According to the Coopers Rock website, Eleven of these structures, including the rustic picnic shelters near the overlook, have been included on the National Register of Historic Places." (Coopers Rock)

Military Service and Marriage:

Denzel enlisted on January 22, 1942 in Fort Hayes, Ohio. According to enlistment records, he was living in Portage, Ohio, and his occupation was "semiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck, and tractor."

Sometime in 1943, he married Lucille Kennedy in New Jersey. I wasn't able to find any further information about their wedding, or her, other than that her address at the time of his burial was 111 Church Street, Bridgeton, New Jersey.

Tec5 Hayes served in the 194th Field Artillery Battalion, where he engaged in the battle for Italy's liberation. He was killed in action on April 8, 1944. His hospital admission record gives his cause of death as injury to the neck and thorax from artillery shell fragments.

Based on his date of death and information about where he was buried, he likely died in one of the battles to push through the Gustav Line at Monte Cassino (January-May 1944). Rome would be liberated in June 1944.

Denzel Odes Hayes is buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for his service. He is also honored at the "Marion County Veterans Killed in Action" Memorial at Veterans Square in Fairmont, WV.

Sources and More Information:

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