Name: Felix HAYLES
Rank / Rating: CK3-Cook Third Class
Service #: 812 63 13
DOB: Jan 07, 1923
From: Wadley, GA
Parents: Drucilla Johnson Hayles (Mother)
Went Aboard: Sep 01, 1943
Age When Ship Went Down: 22 years, 6 months, 23 days
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Jane Gwinn Goodall
Date Posted:

Felix Hayles was born in the rural town of Wadley, Georgia on 7 January 1923. Felix moved to Cape May, New Jersey, and was working at Frank’s Bakery in Wildwood, NJ when he registered for the draft on 30 June 1942. Felix had at least one brother, Augustus, who was born in 1919. Augustus had registered for the draft on 16 October 1940 in Lakewood, New Jersey. He listed his mother, Mrs. Drucilla Johnson Hayles, as his next of kin.

A year after his draft registration, Felix Hayles enlisted in the U.S. Navy from Camden, New Jersey on 12 July 1943. He was received onboard USS Indianapolis on 1 September 1943 in San Francisco and served as Steward’s Mate Second Class. Hayles was promoted to Steward’s Mate First Class on 1 December1943. On 1 July 1944, he was promoted to Cook Third Class. Felix’s service included seven major battles aboard USS Indianapolis (CA-35). The first battle was the Gilbert Islands Operation which lasted three weeks from 20 November to 8 December 1943. That battle paved the way for the establishment of airfields and naval bases to support upcoming operations. Felix perished at 22 years old after the ship was torpedoed and sunk.