William Roland Hayes 3-Time Purple Heart Hero

By Jewelean Magee

William Roland Hayes

The Johnetta R. Cole AM - VETS Post 24 and the African American Veterans Arts and Culture Corporation held a program honoring Purple Heart Veterans. Lackawanna native and three-time Purple Heart Recipient William Roland Hayes was the speaker for the program on August 7, 2024 at the Frank E. Merriweather Library at 1324 Jefferson Avenue.

Mr. Hayes spoke about his experiences as a Vietnam Veteran from 1966-1974. He said that as a kid, he was interested in the military because of family members who served in World War II.

“As a kid, I started reading about paratroopers and when they got out of “jump school” paratroopers had to use the knowledge they learned to take out the enemy and complete their mission,” stated Mr. Hayes.

At age 19, Mr. Hayes went into the Army, and his first job was a cook at Fort Dix, New Jersey, although he wanted to be a radio operator, and later got the chance to go to “jump school” as the only cook in an airborne unit.

“I did my first jump at Fort Benning, Georgia, and had to do five ‘jumps’ to qualify. I had to jump out of planes and helicopters at high altitudes. Some of the things a person learn in jump school is how to find the enemy. You would jump away from the enemy, but get close enough to take him out,” said Mr. Hayes.

Mr. Hayes didn’t go to Advanced Individual Training (AIT), and didn’t know about combat weaponry. “When I went to Vietnam, I was part of an advanced party after leaving Fort Campbell Kentucky, becoming part of a company learning combat weaponry. I was asked about how I felt going to Vietnam. I had to learn everything and in the process I became a sergeant. I went from a mess hall to Vietnam.” Said Mr. Hayes.

Among his other duties, Mr. Hayes repaired helicopters, and was a drill instructor. Mr. Hayes went on to say that every veteran has a story to tell about their experience in the war. “I suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and I was first shot in my right leg, the second time in my left leg, and I had shrapnel in my face from a grenade, which is how I was awarded the Purple Heart three times. I wanted to survive Vietnam, and I did what I had to do,” he said.

After leaving the Army, I went on and joined the 914 Tactical Air Command at the Niagara Falls Air Force Base as a Human Relations Instructor until 1978.

William Roland Hayes will be honored as a Purple Heart hero to the many men and women that have and still are serving in the military