George E. Hayden (1917-1998)
- The Lee Haydens received word from their son, George, that he has been promoted to Lieutenant. He has been in the army nearly two years and overseas for some time. At present he is with U.S. forces fighting in Germany.
This April 5, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
- 1st Lt. George E. Hayden, son of the Lee Haydens, Lowell, has been awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. For the past year he has been fighting with the U.S. 9th army somewhere in Germany. George was awarded the coveted Silver Star for putting a German machine gun nest out of action.
The following May 10, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 2:
- A daughter was born to Lt. and Mrs. George Hayden at the South Bend hospital, April 28th. Mrs. Hayden is staying with her parents at Mishawaka while her husband, son of the Lee Haydens, Lowell, is serving with U.S. forces overseas.
This July 19, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
- Lt. and Mrs. George Hayden and daughter are here visiting his parents, the Lee Haydens, and other relatives. George has just returned from overseas service and saw much action with the infantry in Holland, Belgium and Germany.
This November 15, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, columns 1-2:
- Lt. George E. Hayden of the 413th Infantry, has received high commendations from Lt. Colonel Chas. W. Fernand, his commanding officer. In writing the commendation, Lt. Col. Fernand said that Lt. Hayden had shown unusual physical activity and endurance, great emotional stability under pressure, and extreme attention to detail, and was entirely at ease under the stress of combat. He said the Lieutenant displayed outstanding gentlemanly qualities. Then Lt. Col. Fernand said he had witnessed Lt. Hayden's work both as an enlisted man and as an officer, and was most pleased to endorse recommendation for his appointment as an officer.
The following article from an unidentified newspaper was found in Town Historian Richard Schmal's obituary collection:
- George E. Hayden, age 80, of Mishawaka, passed away at 7:50 a.m., Fri.,
May 1, 1998, at Pilgrim Manor in Plymouth. He is survived by his wife,
Frances Hayden; one daughter, Mary Kay (Phil H.) Hoff of Noblesville;
one son, Hal Keith Hayden of Mishawaka; one brother, Robert Hayden of
Rochester; three sisters, Ella Mae Armstrong and Lucille Gorball, both
of Lowell, and Anita Ohmart of Thayer, Kansas; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Delbert Hayden and Chester
Hayden. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tues., May 5, at
Zion Church of Christ in Wakarusa, with Revs. Duane and Christina
Hoffman officiating. Burial will follow at Rest Haven Cemetery in St.
Joseph County, following military honors. Visitation was held from 2 to
5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. May 4 at Rieth-Rohrer-Ehret-Lienhart Funeral Home
in Wakarusa, with a Masonic Service at 8 p.m. conducted by the Scottish
Rite Lodge of South Bend. George E. Hayden was born July 6, 1917, in
Lowell, the son of Lee A. and Bertha Belle (nee Sharkey) Hayden. He was
married to Frances Nelson on May 14, 1939, in South Bend. A captain in
the U.S. Army Reserves, 104th Timberwolf Div., he received a Silver Star
from action in Holland, and as a member of Company C, 413th Regiment
Battlefield Commission in the U.S. Army, at Aachan, Germany, he received
the Purple Heart. He was president of South Bend Supply from 1971-76
and chair of the board from 1976-83, retiring in 1983 after 47 years of
service. He was a member of Zion United Church of Christ in Wakarusa,
and past president of the Church Council, a member of the Wakarusa
William A. Reed American Legion Post #307, Veterans of Foreign Wars
Bremen Post #8972, Portage Masonic Lodge #675 of South Bend, and
Scottish Rite Lodge, Valley of South Bend, and past Explorer Scout
leader in Madison Twp. Memorial contributions may be made to the Zion
United Church of Christ, Wakarusa.
Return to World War II Veterans
Return to Biographies