PVT Woods Elbert Hayes (WWII)

 PVT Woods Elbert Hayes (Mannington)

August 6, 1911 - October 1, 1944

----

Early Years and Marriage:

PVT Woods Elbert Hayes (Service #35761762) was born in Mannington, WV on August 6, 1911, the son of  Henry and Nancy (Gump) Hayes. Henry was a farmer (1900, 1920 Census) and their family lived in the Broom Field area of Marion County, near Rachel (Lincoln District, 1920 Census). By 1930 their family, including 17-year-old Woods, was living on Dickson Street in Mannington. Henry (58) was no longer a former, with Nancy (54) instead doing "general housework" for a local family.

On May 12, 1932, 20-year-old Woods Elbert Hayes married 22-year-old Opal Marie Staggers in Fairmont, WV. Their wedding was officiated by Rev A.H. Elsey, the first pastor of what is now the Fairmont First Church of the Nazarene (at the time housed in the old Dunbar School). Woods and Opal had two children: Marjorie (1936) and Elaine (1941).

Military Service:

PVT Woods Elbert Hayes entered the draft on October 16, 1940 in Mannington. At the time, he and his family were living on Sycamore Addition in Mannington, while Woods worked for the Industrial Collieries Corporation in Barrackville, Coal Mine #41. He was 5'10" and 145 lbs, with blue eyes, brown hair, and light skin.

Woods enlisted on September 30, 1943 in Clarksburg, WV. It listed him as separated and living in Ohio.

Woods was a member of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. The 3rd Division worked their way through Italy, before landing in Southern France in August of 1944. 

On October 1, 1944, PVT Woods Elbert Hayes was killed in action in France when he was struck by a bullet to the inguinal region of his body. Based on pictures and maps, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division was likely near St. Ames, France, when Woods was killed (Third Infantry Division in World War II, Volume One).

PVT Woods Elbert Hayes is buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in France.

Survivors:

PVT Woods Elbert Hayes was survived by his wife, Opal Marie Hayes, and their two daughters: Marjorie Esther Hayes Gaulin (1936-2016) and Doris Elaine "Angel" Hayes Tanner (1941-2019). Opal never remarried, choosing instead to write and paint for the rest of her days. She died January 12, 1997 at age 86, at the Port St. Lucie Nursing and Restorative Care Center. Opal is buried side by side with her daughter Marjorie, in Tennessee.

Woods was also survived by his father, Henry, and five of his six siblings: three brothers and two sisters. His younger brother, Chester, also served during WWII.

He was preceded in death by his older brother, Charles, and his mother, Nancy, who died of cancer on May 8, 1938, at age 61.

Legacy:

Woods, who received a purple heart for his service, is honored on the "Marion County Veterans Killed in Action" Memorial at Veterans Square in Fairmont, WV, and at the  West Virginia Veterans Memorial in Charleston, WV. 

Note: Since he was living in Ohio when he enlisted in the Army, his gravestone lists Ohio as his home state.

Sources and More Information:



.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CPL Olen Jay Canfield (WWII)

Image
Remembering Tec5 Olen Jay Canfield (Levels Road) January 10, 1919 - September 6, 1944 ---- Tec5 Olen Jay "Skeeter" Canfield (Service #35275107) was born January 10, 1919 in Norton, WV, the son of John and Sarah (Fansler) Canfield. Norton is about six and a half miles from Elkins, in Randolph County. Their family spent the next few decades in Marion County (1920-1940 Census) with John working as a general laborer (1920), lumber cutter at the sawmill (1930), and WPA Road Laborer (1940). The 1940 Census specifies their location as Levels Road, and gives Olen's occupation as "new laborer."  ---- Military Service: Olen entered the draft in Colfax on October 16, 1940. At the time, he was unemployed. Olen was 6'3 1/2" and 165 lbs with brown hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin. "Skeeter" enlisted on February 10, 1942 at Fort Hayes in Columbus, Ohio. His occupation was listed as "metal rolling." In the service, Olen was part of
Read more

1LT Frank Kinsey Evans (WWII)

Image
Remembering 1LT Frank Kinsey Evans (Fairmont) April 28, 1916 to May 13, 1944 "He is a gentleman in whom we place absolute trust." - 1934 FSHS Yearbook ------ 1LT Frank Kinsey Evans was born in Fairmont, WV on April 28, 1916 to William and Ora (Kinsey) Evans. William was the Chief Clerk for a local coal company. The family lived in a variety of locations in Fairmont, all on West Side: 1910 Census: 416 Madison Street 1920 Census: 224 Spring Street 1930 Census: 724 Mt. Vernon Avenue 1940 Census: 414 Gaston Avenue Education Frank graduated from Fairmont Senior High School in 1934. The 1933 yearbook states that Frank's ambition was to become an engineer, while his classmates said of him in the 1934 Maple Leaves "He is a gentleman in whom we place absolute trust." While at Fairmont Senior, he participated in Hi-Y and French Club. Next, Frank enrolled at Fairmont State Teachers College (now Fairmont State University). Frank was the student manager of the Fighting Teach
Read more

CPL Edward Lee Bane (WWII)

Image
Corporal Edward Lee Bane was born December 14, 1911 in Murraysville, Pennsylvania to Kelly Herman Bane and Jesse (Masters) Bane. Unfortunately, his mother died March 9, 1916 of pneumonia following several days of lagrippe and measles, leaving behind three children-- Fred (7), Edward (4), and Marguerite (2). By 1920, Edward (8) was living on Dunkard Mill Road just outside of Farmington, where his father was working as an engineer at the local gas plant. By then, Kelly had married Rose Bradley, with Edward's half-brother, Robert Harry Bane, soon to arrive.  Edward registered for the draft on October 16,1940. He listed himself as 5'8" and 160 pounds, with blue eyes, brown hair, and light brown skin. By then he had married Elizabeth Hoskinson and was living at 511 Rose Avenue in Fairmont, West Virginia. He was working at the Fairmont Supply Company on 10th Street. In 1941, Edward and Elizabeth were living at 411 1/2 Walnut Ave, and both were still working at the Fairmont Suppl
Read more