Corporal Hayes was a member of the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 25 July 1950 and died of those wounds on 20 October 1950.

Hayes was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.