Our Brothers At Arms
This is a picture of Otis Dewey "Red" Hays. The great grandfather of Andrew Clayton. He served as a Private in the U.S. Army during World War II. Otis was born in March of 1899 in Moweaqua, Il. He married May Thomas, daughter of Willis and Alice (Blewett)Thomas, on 24th Aug 1920 in Christian County, Il. Otis and May (Thomas) Hays were parents of Violet Florence Hays born 11th of June 1923 in Decatur, Il and she died of TB and Meningitis on 29th Feb 1924 in Decatur, Il, Adron Lucile Hays born 22nd November 1924 and died from Broncho Pneumonia on 7th Sept 1925, Virginia Marie (Hays) Tucker born 25th March 1925 in Decatur, Il and died 11th March 1981 in Springfield, Il,Dewey Carroll Hays born 14th December 1927 in Decatur, Il and died 14th Jan 1994 in Springfield, Il, Erma Lucille (Hays) Mills born 21st June 1929 in Decatur, Macon County, Il and died 5th Oct 1955 in Decatur, Il, John Arthur Hays, born 29th Jan 1932 in Decatur, Macon County, Il and died 16th Sept 1985 in Stephenville, Texas and Dale Eugene Hays born 2nd Jan 1934 in Decatur, Il and died 30 May 1996 in Hillsboro, Montgomery County, Il. Otis Dewey Hays died 23rd of May 1976 and is buried in Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. Section E-Grave #1900. Otis was the grandson of Henry Hays, who served as a Private with Company E, 32nd Illinois Infantry during the Civil War. Henry is buried in the Hays Cemetery in Moweaqua, Illinois. Otis's great grandfather was Andrew Hays who served in the Mexican War. He is also buried in the Hays Cemetery. On July 12th, 1999 this family discovered for the first time, that Otis D. Hays had a brother named Ernest Volando Hays, born 14th Oct. 1900 in Moweaqua, Il. Ernest Hays died 7th of July 1925 in Decatur, Il. Ernest Hays married Hazel Althea Beedle on 15th Jan 1924, in Decatur, Il. She was the daughter of William and Violet (Hendrickson) Beedle. Ernest and Hazel (Beedle)Hays were parents of Ernest Volando Hays Jr, born 20th April 1925 in Decatur, Il. Ernest Hays Jr married (1)LaVangie Taylor in August of 1948 in New York, New York. LaVangie Taylor is the daughter of Robert and Nellie (Cummings) Taylor. His (2)marriage was to Charlotte Smart in August of 1957. Children of Ernest and LaVangie (Taylor) Hays were: Hazel Violet Hays born 29 Dec 1949 in Chicago, Cook County, Il and Ernest Volando Hays III born 19th Oct 1951 in Decatur, Macon County, Il. Hazel Violet Hays married Robert Elmer Jorgensen on 2nd Nov 1968 in Decatur, Macon County, Il. Robert Jorgensen is the son of Elmer and Wilma (Cole)Jorgensen. The children of Robert and Hazel (Hays)Jorgensen are: Steven Michael Jorgensen born 25th July 1968 in Decatur, Macon County, Il and he married Angel A. Diggs 13th April 1991 in Decatur, Macon County, Il. Robert and Hazel Jorgensen's next child is Bobbi Renae Jorgensen born 26th May 1971 in Decatur, Macon County, Il. Their last child is Toni Lynn Jorgensen born 27th July 1972 in Decatur, Macon County, Il and she married Brad Allen Westerfield 12th Sept 1992 in Decatur, Macon County, Il.
Keith Altevogt, son of the late Gus and Vera (Stark) Altevogt. Served in the US Marine Corp during peace time in the 1960's.
WW I Registration Card of Ernest Volando Hays, brother of Otis Dewey Hays, both sons of George and Hattie (Miller) Hays. Ernest joined the service and lied about his age, so his enlistment was termed fraudulent, but even Audie Murphy lied about his age upon enlistment. Ernest Hays contracted TB while in the US Army and died in his 20's. He is buried in the Jacobs Family Cemetery in Moweaqua, Il. A headstone has been applied for, as his grave has never been marked. His mother is also buried in Jacobs Cemetery, along with her second husband, Ernie Jacobs.