General George Hays
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Details Of The Artifact
English Tailored named Ike Jacket and Visor cap documented as coming directly from the family. m1943 battle jacket
A Bit About General Hays
Prior to overseas deployment the 10th Mountain Division’s moral was reaching an all time low, deserved or not, the men of the division vented all their outrage at General Lloyd Jones who commanded the division. Conditions continues to worsen to the point that General Jones was loudly booed as he presented the winning trophy during a boxing match, as a result the whole division was put on restriction. One can image what the mental and moral conditions were when General Hays took over command of the 10th Mountain division from General Jones.
General George Hays a highly respected and decorated officer who had already been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery during W.W.I. and who had just returned from the European Theater serving as the artillery commander for the Second Infantry Division during the D-day Landings. Now Hays was tasked with the rebuilding the 10thMountain Division.
The Arrival of General Hays marked a sea change in the morale of the division. While giving an address to the officers and noncoms Hays committed on how lucky he was to command such a fine division. This sentiment was felt as well by the men of the division one soldier remarked “we are all pleased with him and expect him to be much better!”
In 116 days of combat General Hays lead the division in some of the roughest terrain in the Italian Campaign. One exploit showing the skills of the 10th took place On Feb. 18, 1945, the 10th Division took Riva Ridge — to prevent the Germans from being able to survey U.S. positions below — in a nighttime operation. The steep mountain was covered in snow and ice. At night, the Germans did not bother with guard patrols, because the conditions were so difficult that they did not believe any American unit could climb the ridge — day or night.
But the Germans were wrong, and the soldiers of the 10th climbed, silently, to the top and secured Riva Ridge with minimal casualties.