Ira Hamilton Hayes, participant in the famous flag raising at Iwo Jima, was a Pima Indian, born in Sacaton, AZ., Jan. 12, 1923. In 1932 the family moved a few miles southward to Bapchule, AZ., located on the Gila River Indian Reservation. Hayes left high school after 2 years. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in May and June of 1942, then he went to work as a carpenter.
On August 26, 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at Phoenix for the duration of the National Emergency. Following boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, Hayes was assigned to Parachute Training School at Camp Gillespi, Marine Corps Base, San Diego, CA. He graduated one month later where he was qualified as a parachutist on Nov. 30, and promoted to Private First Class the next day. December 2nd he joined Company B, 3rd Parachute Battalion, Divisional Special Troops, 3rd Marine Division, at Camp Elliot, CA.
In April his unit was redesigned Company K, 3rd Parachute Division, 1st Marine Parachute Regiment. In October Hayes sailed for Vella Lavella, arriving on the 14th. He took part in the campaign and occupation of that island until Dec. 3rd when he moved north to Bougainville, where he arrived the next day. The campaign there was already underway, but the parachutists saw a full day of fighting before they left on Jan. 15, 1944
In September Hayes sailed to Hawaii for training. He sailed from Hawaii to Iwo Jima, landing there Feb. 19, 1945, and remained there fighting until March 26th. Then he embarked for Hawaii where he boarded a plane for the U.S. On April 19th he joined Company C, 1st Headquarters Battalion, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington DC.
On May 10, 1945 he left for a bond selling tour. In Chicago he received orders directing him to return to the 28th Marines. He arrived at Hilo, Hawaii, and rejoined Company E. On June 19 he was promoted to Corporal. With the end of the war, Corporal Hayes and his company left Hawaii and landed at Sasbo, Japan to participate in the occupation of Japan. On Oct. 25th he boarded his 11th and last ship to return home to the United States. Landing in San Francisco on Nov. 9, he was honorably discharged on Dec. 1st.
Corporal Hayes was awarded a Letter of Commendation with Commendation Ribbon by Lt. General Roy S. Geiger for his "meritorious and efficient performance on duty while serving with the Marine Infantry Battalion". The list of his medals and decorations are: Commendation Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal (as shown above).
Ira Hamilton Hayes died in Bapchule, AZ Jan. 24, 1955. He was buried on Feb. 2, 1955 at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 34, Plot #479A.
