John B. Hayes

John Briggs Hayes (30 August 1924 – 17 January 2001) was an admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 16th commandant from 1978 to 1982.[1]

For other people named John Hayes, see John Hayes (disambiguation).

John B. Hayes
Born(1924-08-30)30 August 1924
Jamestown, New York, U.S.
Died17 January 2001(2001-01-17) (aged 76)
Florida Keys, Florida, U.S.
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Service/branchUnited States Coast Guard
Years of service1946–1982
RankAdmiral
Commands heldCommandant of the U.S. Coast Guard
Commander of the 17th Coast Guard District
AwardsCoast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Coast Guard Commendation Medal

Early life and education

Hayes was born in Jamestown, New York, and grew up in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Hayes graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut in 1946, although Academy records list him in the Class of 1947. His first command assignment was at the LORAN Transmitting Station in Matsumae, Hokkaidō, Japan. After a series of Coast Guard cutter command assignments, he attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Following graduation from the Naval War College, he was stationed in Washington, D.C., where he graduated from George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, earning an M.A. in international affairs.

Career

From 1966 to 1968, Hayes assumed a command post, stationed in Vietnam, during the war. Returning to Washington, he was promoted to captain and assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard's Office of Boating Safety, followed by his service as Commandant of cadets at the United States Coast Guard Academy. From 1975 until his appointment as Coast Guard Commandant, he served as commander of the Juneau, Alaska-based 17th Coast Guard District.

Under Hayes' leadership, the Coast Guard accomplished a number of firsts for women in the military, including the assignment of Lieutenant (junior grade) Beverly Kelley as the first female commanding officer of a U.S. military vessel, and Lieutenant Kay Hartzell as the first female to command an isolated U.S. military unit.[2]

Dates of rank
Ensign Lieutenant, Junior Grade Lieutenant Lieutenant Commander Commander Captain
O-1 O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5 O-6
5 June 1946 15 September 1948 29 October 1951 1 July 1958 1 July 1964 1 October 1968
Commodore Rear Admiral Vice Admiral Admiral
O-7 O-8 O-9 O-10
Never held 1 August 1973 Never held 1 June 1978

Later life and death

Following his retirement from the Coast Guard, Hayes moved to Boothbay, Maine. He died while vacationing in the Florida Keys after being struck by a car at the age of 76. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[3]

Personal life

Hayes was an Eagle Scout and a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.[4]

References
  1. "United States Coast Guard Biography". Archived from the original on 2 May 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  2. U.S. Coast Guard Women's History
  3. "16th Coast Guard Commandant former 17th District Commander dies". Archived from the original on 22 February 2005. Retrieved 6 March 2005.
  4. "Distinguished Eagle Scouts" (PDF). Scouting.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
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