<div>
<em>Harry Ellis Hayes </em>was born in Lafayette, Alabama, 10 November 1945, and died in Vietnam 31 March 1970 during contact with enemy forces.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Harry spent most of his life growing up in Alexander City, Alabama. In 1964 he entered West Point. There he excelled in sports and leadership, being named to the Eastern Intercollegiate 150-lb. football all league team.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Harry graduated in 1968 and was commissioned in the Infantry. Upon completion of Ranger and Airborne schools, he was assigned to Germany for a year. Midway through his tour he returned to marry Gretchen Klinkert and returned with her to Germany.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
In February 1970 Harry arrived in Vietnam and was asigned to the 101st Airborne Division. For one month he led a platoon in the mountainous terrain east of the Ashau Valley.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
In Harry's younger life he embraced Christianity and for years was a member of the First Baptist Church near his home in Alabama. He was loved and respected by all who knew him, and lived long enough to have all the Christian graces develop and ripen in his character.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Harry was taken to his church in Alexander City and buried next to his father in Hillview Memorial Park overlooking the beautiful Alabama countryside he knew and loved so well.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Harry’s personality won him many, many friends, and he gave of himself to all. Harry lived everyday for all it was worth; he thrust himself into life just like he streaked down the slopes or fought to make that extra yard. Harry lived for his fellow man; he dedicated his life to life itself and it is in this manner that he died. He is gone in body but not in spirit. Those who knew him and loved him could not help but be inspired with his fullness of life. Though Harry is gone, his life lives on in those of us blessed to have known him.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
If there was one word to best describe Harry it would he DEDICATED. He was dedicated to life, dedicated to his fellow man, his loving family, and dedicated to his country. It was this dedication for which he laid down his life.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"Of the good in him I can speak, but not</div>
<div>
of the evil, for what is evil but good</div>
<div>
tortured by its own hunger and thirst.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
He gave much and knew not that he gave</div>
<div>
at all, for this I loved him most.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
As I am parted from my friend I will grieve</div>
<div>
not, for that which I love in him may be</div>
<div>
clearer in his absence...<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
These things I can say in words, but much in</div>
<div>
my heart remains unsaid and it moves</div>
<div>
like unto a stormy sea—in the very depth</div>
<div>
of my being and with great force.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Vague and nebulous is the beginning of all</div>
<div>
things but not their end. Life, and all </div>
<div>
that lives, is conceived in the mist and</div>
<div>
not in the crystal. My pain is the breaking</div>
<div>
of the shell that encloses my understanding.</div>
<div>
And now my soul touches the</div>
<div>
mist and I must concede that Harry is, above all,</div>
<div>
a creature of God.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
To this inevitable truth we must all yield,</div>
<div>
for we can muffle the drum and we can</div>
<div>
loosen the strings of the lyre, but who</div>
<div>
shall command the skylark not to sing?"</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
(Doug Phillips)</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<em>-Captain Robert A. Brace, classmate; Captain Andrew C. Silverthorn, classmate; Doug Phillips, classmate</em></div>