Verlin Hayes
The Montpelier Examiner, April 6, 1944
Pvt. VERLIN HAYES DIES FOLLOWING GUNSHOT WOUND
Private Verlin Hayes, son of Mrs. Vera Hayes of Georgetown, died March 31 at Camp Polk, Louisiana, following a gunshot wound. He was born in Georgetown, November 11, 1922. The bullet, which caused his death a few hours later, came from an accidentally discharged gun while Private Hayes was in his barracks.
He established an outstanding scholastic record in both the grade and high schools at Georgetown and was valedictorian of the class of 1941. He was also a member of the Georgetown high school basketball team. At the time of induction, January 27, 1943, he was attending the USAC at Logan. He had completed most of his training for a paratrooper and had been stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, Camp Mackall, North Carolina and more recently at Camp Polk. A brother S/Sgt Russell Hayes was taken prisoner of war August 19, 1943 after having parachuted to the Mediterranean off Italy from a B-17 on which he was a gunner.
In addition to his mother and Sgt. Hayes, he is survived by another brother, Clinton Hayes of Georgetown; a sister Mrs. Neil Lewis of Georgetown; and paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John R Hayes of Georgetown and maternal grandfather William J Skinner of Soda Springs. Services were conducted at the Roberts Funeral Home at De Ridder, Louisiana at 9 am, Sunday where the remains were escorted by Private Hayes' company from Camp Polk. Following services the remains were escorted to the railroad station where they were turned over to Staff Sergeant Vigbert D Sharpe, military escort, who arrived in Montpelier Tuesday morning.
Funeral services were held today (Thursday) at the Georgetown ward chapel. Post 63 American Legion furnished pallbearers and color guard. Interment was in Soda Springs, where the Legion Post there participated in gravesite services.