Sergeant First Class Hayes was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He developed mellitus diabetes and was taken to the 121st Evacuation Hospital in Taejon, South Korea, where he died on 12 April 1951.

Hayes was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.