David Ephraim Hayden (October 2, 1897 – March 18, 1974) was a United States Navy

Hospital Corpsman A hospital corpsman (HM r corpsman is an enlisted medical specialist of the United States Navy, who may also serve in a U.S. Marine Corps unit. The corresponding rating within the United States Coast Guard is health services technician ( ...

who served during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

and earned the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor ...

for valiant actions in France.

Biography

Hayden was born in

Florence, Texas Florence is a city in Williamson County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,171 at the 2020 census. Since 2000, the territorial limits of Florence has grown by 8%. Florence is located about north from Georgetown and north of Austin in n ...

and enlisted in the Navy in October 1917. He received training in

San Diego Naval Base Naval Base San Diego, also known as 32nd Street Naval Station, is the second largest surface ship base of the United States Navy and is located in San Diego, California. Naval Base San Diego is the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, cons ...

, California, and

Quantico, Virginia Quantico ( or ; formerly Potomac) is a town in Prince William County, Virginia, United States. The population was 480 at the 2010 census. Quantico is approximately 35 miles southwest of Washington, DC, bordered by the Potomac River to the east a ...

. During the war, he was attached to the 2/6th Marines as a Hospital Apprentice First Class. The

Marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military * ...

outfit saw action in France at the

Battle of Saint-Mihiel The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a major World War I battle fought from 12–15 September 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French troops under the command of General John J. Pershing of the United States against ...

, during which Hayden ran through heavy enemy fire to administer aid to a wounded Marine, Corporal Creed. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. After the war, Hayden was promoted to Pharmacist's Mate Third Class. He served aboard the troop transport ''Princess Matoika'' until the summer of 1920. He then served as a

U.S. Marshal The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is a federal law enforcement agency in the United States. The USMS is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Justice, operating under the direction of the Attorney General, but serves as the enforce ...

in California until the age of seventy. David E Hayden died on March 18, 1974 and He was buried at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

Arlington, Virginia Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county i ...

.Burial Detail: Hayden, David E (Section 36, Grave 1864)
– ANC Explorer

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Hospital Apprentice First Class, U.S. Navy, serving with the 2d Battalion, 6th Regiment, U.S. Marines. Place and date: Thiaucourt, France, 15 September 1918. Entered service at: Texas. Born: 2 October 1897 Florence, Tex. Citation:

For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. During the advance, when Cpl. Creed was mortally wounded while crossing an open field swept by machinegun fire, Hayden unhesitatingly ran to his assistance and, finding him so severely wounded as to require immediate attention, disregarded his own personal safety to dress the wound under intense machinegun fire, and then carried the wounded man back to a place of safety.

References

External links

*
David E. Hayden
at ArlingtonCemetery.net, an unofficial website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hayden, David E. 1897 births 1974 deaths United States Navy personnel of World War I Burials at Arlington National Cemetery United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients United States Navy corpsmen Military personnel from Texas People from Williamson County, Texas United States Marshals World War I recipients of the Medal of Honor

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

See also

References

External links