Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Jefferson County may get another section of road named after one of its own – a retired U.S. Marine, multi-wars hero and current county resident.
Acting at the behest of Sheriff Mac McNeill and Commissioner Betsy Barfield, the Jefferson County Commission last week approved a resolution naming the section of State Road 59 between U.S. 90 and U.S. 27 as the Major John Leroy Haynes Memorial Highway.
Haynes, a 91-year-old retired Marine, enjoys a long and distinguished career in the military, with numerous honors to his name. On hand to witness the brief ceremony at the commission meeting on Thursday evening, April 1, were many of his friends and military cohorts.
Haynes accepted the honor with graciousness and avowed modesty.
“It’s with all humility that I accept this wonderful consideration,” a surprised Haynes told the commission, noting that he had been led to believe that he was attending an event to honor Sgt. Ernest “Boots” Thomas, whom he called a real local hero.
That said, Haynes expressed gratitude and appreciation for the honor. He said that if the Legislature approved the resolution, as the local officials were asking, he would do his best to live up to the honor.
“I will make sure that those who vote in favor of this resolution won’t be disappointed,” Haynes said.
At which point, the audience and commission gave him a standing ovation.
A Madison County native and current Jefferson County resident, Haynes served 30 years in the military, during which time he participated in several armed conflicts and received numerous commendations, awards and promotions as a consequence.
Born on Feb. 6, 1930, Haynes enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1945 at the age of 15, wanting to serve his country. He was assigned to the first Marine Division following boot camp and was shipped to China to participate in the surrender of the Japanese Army after World War II.
During his two-year stay in China, Haynes’ division was given the responsibility of maintaining the open railroad between North China and Manchuria, which led the marines to get drawn into the Chinese Civil War.
Haynes subsequently saw action in Korea, where he served as a platoon sergeant and acting platoon commander with the 1st Marine Division for 13 months, and during which period he was wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Combat Medal.
Post his Korean service, Haynes returned to the states, where he continued to receive training and acquire knowledge and credential in various aspects of warfare, all the while rising through the ranks.
He served a 13-month tour in Vietnam during the 1960s, for which service he was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the nation’s third highest combat decoration for conspicuous gallantry in action against an armed enemy.
Following his retirement from active duty in 1975, Haynes served as commandant of the Maryland Marine Corps League and also as service officer for the Veterans Administration and the American Legion and Chairman Emeritus of the Florida Veterans Foundation, which he helped found in 2008.
In 2017, former Gov. Rick Scott awarded Haynes the Governor’s Medal of Merit for decades of brave and selfless devotion to his country, state and community.
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