Fred E. Haynes, Jr.

Fred Elmer Haynes Jr. (January 5, 1921 - March 25, 2010) was a decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Major General. He served in three wars and completed his career as Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Studies at Headquarters Marine Corps. He was the older brother of actor, Jerry Haynes aka Mr. Peppermint.

Early years
Fred E. Haynes was born on January 5, 1921 in Dallas, Texas as the son of Fred E. Haynes Sr. & Louise Schimelpfenig and had four siblings: Jerry, William, Hal and sister Mary Louise. He spent his childhood in Plano, Texas, where his maternal grandfather Frederick Schimelpfenig served as Mayor and later operated Grocery store. He attended the Plano High School and following the graduation in summer of 1937, he enrolled the Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Haynes was active in football and track teams during his time at the University and was the vice president of Delta Phi Alpha fraternity in his senior year. He graduated in June 1941 with Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.

Following his graduation, he worked as reporter for the Dallas Morning News, but after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he decided to volunteer for the military service. Haynes entered the Marine Corps Reserve as Private on March 13, 1942 and was attached to Reserve Officers' Class at Officer Candidates School at Quantico Base, Virginia.

He completed the course on June 13, 1942 and was commissioned Second lieutenant on that date. He subsequently attended the Platoon Leaders Course in August of that year and then accepted regular commission. Haynes was then appointed an instructor and platoon leader at Quantico and took part in the training of new officers. During his duties there, he was promoted to the rank of First lieutenant in February 1943.

Haynes was transferred to Camp Pendleton, California in February 1944 and attached to the newly activated 28th Marine Regiment under the command of decorated Marine Raider, Colonel Harry B. Liversedge. He was promoted to the rank of Captain one month later and appointed regimental Assistant to the regimental operations officer, Major Oscar F. Peatross. Haynes subsequently took part in the extensive training and finally sailed to the Pacific theater in October 1944, reaching the Hawaii during the same month. The 28th Marines were stationed at Camp Tarawa and conducted amphibious training for next four months.

The 28th Marine Regiment sailed as the of 5th Marine Division under Major general Keller E. Rockey for Iwo Jima in February 1945 and Haynes landed with the assault troops on Green Beach in the morning of February 19th. Haynes particapted in the planning and assault on Mount Suribachi and remained in combat area until the end of March and was decorated with Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for his bravery in action. He also received Navy Presidential Unit Citation.

Postwar service
Following the Iwo Jima, 28th Marines sailed back for Hawaii in order to prepare for Invasion of Japan, but the surrender of the Empire at the beginning of September 1945 changed the plans. Haynes subsequently sailed to Japan with his regiment and took part in the occupation duties at Sasebo. The 28th Marines were ordered back to the United States for deactivation in December and Haynes was transferred to the 6th Marine Regiment under Colonel James P. Berkeley, where he served as Operations officer of 1st then 3rd Battalions.

Haynes returned to the United States in August 1946 and decided to remain on active service. He was ordered to Washington, D.C. for duty at Headquarters Marine Corps with the division of Plans and Policies and served in that capacity under brigadier general Gerald C. Thomas until June 1949, when he was promoted to the rank of Major and transferred back to his native Texas.

He then spent three years as Associate Professor of Naval Science at the University of Texas at Austin and was ordered for instruction to the Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico, Virginia in June 1952. Upon the completion of the school in June 1953, Haynes was transferred to Japan and appointed Combat Intelligence Officer at the staff of 3rd Marine Division under Major general Robert H. Pepper. From March until September 1954, Haynes served as Executive officer of 2nd battalion, 1st Marines in Korea and took part in the defense of Korean Demilitarized Zone.

Upon his return to the United States, Haynes was ordered to the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base and appointed Operations officer of 2nd Combat Service Group within Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic under Brigadier general Francis B. Loomis. The Force Troops was responsible for all independent units under Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic such as support artillery units, antiaircraft artillery units, military police battalions, separate engineer units and other miscellaneous force units. Haynes was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in December 1954 and assumed command of Field Maintenance Battalion within this command.

In November 1956, Haynes was ordered to Washington, D.C. and attended Turkish studies at Foreign Service Institute. He was then transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps and served as Special Projects Officer within Operations Division. Haynes was transferred to Ankara, Turkey in May 1958 and served as Assistant Naval Attache for Air at the American Embassy under Raymond A. Hare. He was also present in Turkey during the 1960 Revolution and served as the principal contact between the Embassy and the Turkish military.

Following his return to the United States, Haynes was ordered for instruction to Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He graduated with honors in June 1962 and assumed duties as Head of Combat Intelligence Requirements and Readiness Branch, Intelligence Division at Headquarters Marine Corps under Major general Robert E. Cushman. While in this capacity, Haynes was promoted to the rank of Colonel in July 1963. During his time in Washington, Haynes earned M.A. degree in International Affairs from George Washington University in January 1963.

He was ordered to the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs under John McNaughton and served on the Policy Planning Staff as Special Assistant to the Principal Deputy and then Director of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs at the Pentagon until October 1966. Haynes was decorated with Legion of Merit for his in this capacity.

Vietnam War era
Haynes arrived to Vietnam in December 1966 and relieved colonel Charles F. Widdecke as commanding officer of 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division at Chu Lai. He was subsequently appointed Chief of Staff, Task Force X-Ray, comprised the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines and the Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines under the command of Brigadier generals William A. Stiles and helped the plan the Operation Desoto, search and destory operation in Quang Ngai Province directed against North Vietnamese strongholds in that region. Haynes was decorated with his second Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for his service in that capacity and also received his second Navy Presidential Unit Citation.

He then assumed duty as Operations Officer on the staff of III Marine Amphibious Force under his old superior, Lieutenant general Robert E. Cushman and took part in the planning of III MAF Operations until November 13, 1967, when he was ordered back to the United States. Haynes received his third Legion of Merit for his service with III MAF and several South Vietnamese decorations.

Following a brief leave at home, Haynes assumed duties as Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Leonard F. Chapman, Jr., who was just appointed to his office. In this capacity, he served as the senior advisor and task manager and ran the day-to-day operations of the Office of the Commandant, supervised the schedule of the Commandant, and performed other duties as the Commandant may direct. Haynes remained in this capacity until September 1, 1968 when he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and appointed Legaslative assistant to the Commandant.

Haynes was promoted to the rank of Major General on September 8, 1971 and assumed command of 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina three weeks later. He held command of the division until January 1973, when he received transfer orders for Korea for duty as Senior Member of the United Nations Command, Military Armistice Commission, Korea and his duty was to supervise Korean Armistice Agreement.

He was transferred to Okinawa on September 1, 1973 and assumed command of 3rd Marine Division, which served as the defense force of Far Eastern Area. Haynes was ordered back to the United States at the end of August 1974 and received the Korean Order of National Security Merit, 3rd Class for his service Korea and Japan.

Haynes served as Commanding general of Camp Lejeune until the end of August 1975 and then began his last tour of duty as Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Studies at Headquarters Marine Corps. He retired from the Marine Corps after almost 35 years of service on January 1, 1977.

Later life
Haynes settled in New York City and was the first marine officer elected to the Council on Foreign Relations. He also served as Chairman Emeritus of American-Turkish Council was the founder of Iwo Jima Association of America. He is co-author of the book: The Lions of Iwo Jima: The Story of Combat Team 28 and the Bloodiest Battle in Marine Corps History.

Because of his experience with POW at the end of World War II, he was the strong advocate of humane treatment of all prisoners, not only because he believed "it was the moral thing to do", but also because humane treatment often provided valuable intelligence at a time when the lives of servicemen and women depended on it. He also advised presidential candidates, as well as sitting presidents, on the treatment of those captured during battle.

Major general Fred Elmer Haynes Jr. died on March 25, 2010 in New York City and is buried together with his wife, Bonnie Arnold Haynes, at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. They had together three children Karen Francis Haynes, research bio-chemist and twin boys Fred Elmore Haynes and William Lane Haynes, who are lawyers. Vance A. Larson is general Haynes' brother-in-law.

Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Major general Fred E. Haynes Jr.: