John Leroy Haynes
Major John Leroy Haynes (1930-2023) was a Marine Corps officer, veterans advocate, and the namesake for the John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans Oral History Program. Haynes was born in Madison, Florida but moved to Venice, Florida when he was 6, and lived in South Florida until he enlisted with the Marines when he was 15. In 1945, he joined the 1st Marine Division in China, where he oversaw the surrender of Japan in North China, and fought on behalf of the Nationalists in the Chinese Civil War. Later in 1949, he was selected for duty at Marine Barracks 8th & Eye, Washington D.C. with the Marine Corps Ceremonial Detachment. He served in the Korean War where he received the Purple Heart and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V” for his service. After returning to the United States, he was stationed in Quantico, Virginia with duty at the Marine Corps Development Center, where he served as the NCOIC of the Mine Field / Obstacle Breaching Section and later the Marine Corps Engineer School, Camp Lejeune, N.C. as NCOIC of Demolition & Mine Warfare School. There he became a pioneer in Explosive Ordinance disposal, developing new demolition techniques which saved countless lives. Major Haynes then did two tours in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the nation’s third highest combat decoration for Conspicuous Gallantry. He retired from active duty in 1975.
In his civilian career, Major Haynes was a tireless defender of veterans. After completing a BS at University of Maryland and a master’s from Central Michigan University, he then worked for 17 years in the Navy Trident Submarine Program, two years at the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, and 15 years as the Naval Seas System Command Trident Submarine Coordinator, Eastern Test Range, Cape Canaveral, Fl. In 1978 he was awarded the Distinguished Citizen of Maryland Award by the Governor of the State of Maryland for his work with veterans. He was the first Chairman of the Florida Veterans Foundation, and was a volunteer Service Officer, with the Disabled American Veterans, Dept, of Florida, where he helped countless veterans and their widows claim benefits. Major Haynes served for 20 years as a Service Officer for the Veterans Administration and the American Legion, as well as serving as the Florida State Service Officer of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame in 2013, received the Governor’s Medal of Merit in 2017, was selected by Governor Scott to represent him in Washington DC for the signing of the “VA Mission Act of 2018”, and he received the DAR Medal of Honor March of 2022.
