My first assignment after graduation was training as a Nuclear Weapons Officer. After completing the course, I volunteered for flight training. I completed Navigator Training in 1961 and stayed as a Navigator Instructor in Texas and California until 1967. In 1967 I received an Air Force Institute of Technology scholarship to Syracuse University. Upon receiving an MBA in Production, I was assigned to Vietnam in AC119G gunships. After temporary training in Columbus, Ohio and Puerto Rico, I landed in Vietnam in January 1969. During the next year, I flew 201 missions.When I returned to the States, I was assigned to Air Defense Command Headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In an elaborate ceremony, I received 11 Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross from the Commanding General. One secretary, who worked in the offices to which I was assigned, remarked, "I don’t know how you could accept medals for fighting in Vietnam." Somebody had missed the point. I didn’t think it was me. I enjoyed Colorado. It took me a while to get used to the snow. Finally, I learned how to ski and didn't want to leave.
My next assignment was in Bitburg, Germany. I was Chief of Base Operations. I used the two years to tour Berlin, London, and most points to the Mediterranean Sea. When I returned to the States, I was assigned to another transport aircraft, the C-141. For four years, I was everywhere. I participated in the recovery of bodies from Jonestown, Guyana. I participated in the input and extraction of French Foreign Legion troops to Zaire when Angola invaded Zaire.
Finally, after 6000 hours of flying, 15 years of flying assignments, having been shot down once and landing safely, over 600 combat flying hours, and no accidents, I realized I was doing the same thing I had been doing twenty years earlier. With no hope of getting a non-flying job, I retired.
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| Melvin Blair Hayes |
Following is Melvin Blair Hayes' obituary: Melvin Hayes,85, U.S. Air Force Veteran, of Elizabethtown went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 21, 2022. He was born in York County, SC to the late Stacey and Ethel Yandle Hayes on October 29, 1936. Mr. Melvin leaves behind three sons, Michael Blair Hayes (Elaine), Andrew Jonathan Hayes (Kristie), and John Christopher Hayes, one daughter, Elizabeth Blair Hayes, one sister, Vernice Nies (Bill), six grandchildren, Lyndsey Denaro, Michael Hayes Jr., Daniel Patrick Blair Hayes, Abigail Grace Hayes, Jonathan Caleb Hayes, and Andrew Joshua Hayes, and one great grandchild, Wesley Denaro. He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Frederick and Bruce Hayes.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 27th in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Bolivia, NC at 11:00 am. The family will receive friends following the service at the home of Thiry Hayes Hewett, 4063 Business US 17 in Bolivia.
White Funeral & Cremation Services will be assisting with the service.
Place of Burial: Forrest Lawn Cemetery; Bolivia, NC, Brunswick County
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