Bronze Star Recipient
James A. Hayes |
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Army
Maj.
James A.
Hayes
was a
member
of the
Multi-National
Corps
Iraq
during
Operation
Iraqi
Freedom.
He is
described
as a
great
commander
– one
who took
care of
his men
and took
the
fight to
the
enemy.
On the
eve of
Iraq’s
first
free
elections
in
January
2005,
then a
captain,
Hayes
received
the
mission
to
establish
one of
three
polling
sites in
the
northern
city of
Tal’afar.
Along
with
members
of his
reconnaissance
troop,
he
received
an
infantry
platoon,
anti-tank
platoon,
and a
45-man
Iraqi
Commando
Company
to
establish
security
for not
only the
polling
site,
but also
the
nearby
hospital
and two
traffic
control
points.
Enemy
contact
began
upon the
initial
occupation
of the
area on
Jan. 28,
and
culminated
in a
96-hour
firefight.
Because
of the
high
demand
for
troops
to
secure
the
various
sites,
Hayes
only had
a few
men
remaining
to
attack
insurgents.
He led
mounted
and
dismounted
patrols
with
members
of his
troop
task
force
along
with one
squad
from the
Iraqi
Commando
Company.
“I
focused
the
patrols
where
the most
intense
enemy
fire was
originating,”
said
Hayes as
he
recalled
the
incidents.
As a
result,
several
insurgents
were
captured
or
killed
over the
four-day period
with no serious injuries to
his forces or loss of
civilian life. |
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“The insurgents had
posted flyers warning of what would happen to anyone that
participated in the election,” explained Hayes.
This caused his troops and him to be targets as they established and
secured one of the polling sites. Days leading up to the election,
they faced several attacks.
On Election Day, insurgents began to target the individuals
attempting to vote. Despite enemy machine gun fire, mortars, Rocket
Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
attacks against friendly patrols, the Iraqis were determined to
participate in the election process.
“One Iraqi civilian was struck in the abdomen by enemy fire on the
way to the polling station, but refused to be taken to the nearby
hospital until he had cast his vote,” recalled Hayes. Even with
unrelenting enemy fire throughout the day, over 2800 Iraqi citizens
braved the life threatening conditions to cast their vote.
For his efforts in establishing and securing the polling site under
fire, Hayes was recognized with the Bronze Star while serving as C
Troop commander in 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry in the 1st Stryker
Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. |
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Photo and information courtesy of US
Army /
Dept. of Defense |
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Bronze Star Recipients |
Other Heroes | |
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