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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Hospital Apprentice First Class · U.S. Navy

David Ephraim Hayden

Hospital Apprentice First Class David Ephraim Hayden, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 15, 1918 in Thiaucourt, France during World War I.

World War I September 15, 1918

Hospital Apprentice First Class David Ephraim Hayden, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 15, 1918 in Thiaucourt, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 2d Battalion, 6th Regiment, U.S. Marines. Hayden was 20 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Pharmacist's Mate Third Class.

Hayden was born on October 2, 1897 in Florence, Williamson County, Texas. His Medal of Honor is credited to Texas. Hayden died on March 18, 1974 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 76. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by Legion of Valor Museum, Fresno, CA.

Hayden is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 78 credited to Texas.

★ Medics & Corpsmen★ Gave Their Lives

Official Medal of Honor citation

For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. During the advance, when Cpl. Creed was mortally wounded while crossing an open field swept by machine-gun fire, Hayden unhesitatingly ran to his assistance and, finding him so severely wounded as to require immediate attention, disregarded his own personal safety to dress the wound under intense machine-gun fire, and then carried the wounded man back to a place of safety.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Florence — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Texas →

Timeline

  1. October 2, 1897
    Born in Florence, Williamson County, Texas
  2. September 15, 1918
    Act of valor — Thiaucourt, France
    Age 20. 2d Battalion, 6th Regiment, U.S. Marines
  3. March 18, 1974
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 76.
  4. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

David Ephraim Hayden (October 2, 1897 – March 18, 1974) was a United States Navy Hospital Corpsman who served during World War I and earned the Medal of Honor for valiant actions in France.

From the Wikipedia article “David E. Hayden”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on September 15, 1918

Emory Jenison Pike Lieutenant Colonel · Army World War I · 1918 ✦

More World War I recipients from Texas

DE Daniel Richmond Edwards Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 David B. Barkeley Private · Army World War I · 1918 ✦
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.