Silas B. Hays

{{Short description|United States Army Surgeon General (1902–1964)}}

{{Infobox military person

|name=Silas Beach Hays

|birth_date= {{birth date|1902|02|18}}

|death_date= {{death date and age|1964|7|24|1902|02|18}}

|birth_place=Saint Paul, Minnesota, US

|death_place=Arlington, Virginia, US

|placeofburial=Arlington National Cemetery

|placeofburial_label= Place of burial

|image=Silas B. Hays.jpg

|caption=Silas B. Hays, Surgeon General of the U.S. Army, 1955

|nickname=

|allegiance= United States

|branch= United States Army

|serviceyears=1928–1959

|rank= Major General

|commands=Surgeon General of the US Army

|battles=World War II
Korean War

|awards=Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (2)

|relations=

|laterwork=

}}

Silas Beach Hays (February 18, 1902 – July 24, 1964) was a major general who served as Surgeon General of the United States Army.

Early life

Silas Beach Hays was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on February 18, 1902,{{cite book |date=1955 |title=United States Armed Forces Medical Journal, Volume 6, Part 2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0aJMAQAAIAAJ&q=%22february+1902%22 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |page=1074}} and was raised in Washington, D.C. and West Chester, Pennsylvania.United States Army Medical Department, [https://books.google.com/books?id=3PQhAQAAMAAJ&q=%22silas+b.+hays%22+%22st+paul%22 United States Armed Forces Medical Journal], Volume 6, Part 2, 1955, p. 1074University of Pennsylvania, [https://books.google.com/books?id=GkMwOpCrnCYC&q=%22hays+silas+Beach%22&pg=PA375 Annual Catalog], 1920, p. 375 He attended Iowa State University, received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Iowa in 1925 and graduated from the University of Iowa with a medical degree in 1928.Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NJ8eAQAAMAAJ&q=%22silas+b.+hays%22%22university+of+iowa%22 The Pharos of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society], Volume 21, Issue 1, 1958, p. 48

Early career

Hays completed the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and received his temporary commission in 1928 as a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps. He completed his internship at Letterman General Hospital in 1929 and received his permanent commission.New York Times, [https://www.nytimes.com/1929/08/09/archives/army-medical-corps-commissions-thirty-all-are-reserve-officers-who.html Army Medical Corps Commission Thirty; All Are Reserve Officers Who Have Completed Year's Internship of Post Hospitals], August 9, 1929 Hays graduated from the Army Medical School in 1930 and the Army Medical Field Service School in 1931.American Veterinary Medical Association, [https://books.google.com/books?id=b-cHAQAAIAAJ&q=%22silas+b.+hays%22+commission+1928 Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association], Volume 127, 1955, p. 190American Academy of General Practice, [https://books.google.com/books?id=QRogAQAAMAAJ&q=%22silas+b.+hays%22+field+service+school General Practitioner], Volume 11, 1955, p. 33

Hays specialized in urology and general surgery, and carried out assignments throughout the United States, including: Fort Dix, New Jersey; Tripler Army Medical Center; Walter Reed Army Medical Center; the U.S Soldiers Home; and the Brooklyn Army Terminal. He graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1940 and was assigned to the Finance and Supply Division in the Office of the Surgeon General.U.S. Army Medical Department, Office of Medical History, [http://history.amedd.army.mil/surgeongenerals/S_Hays.html Biography, Silas B. Hays] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217163953/http://history.amedd.army.mil/surgeongenerals/S_Hays.html |date=2013-02-17 }}, February 20, 2009

World War II

Hays became a recognized expert on the Army's medical supply process. During World War II, he was assigned as Director of the Distribution and Requirements Division in the Surgeon General's Supply Service, with responsibility for the acquisition, storage and issue of Army medical supplies in the continental United States.Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, [https://books.google.com/books?id=SwU-AQAAIAAJ&q=%22silas+b+hays%22+director+distribution+requirements The Military Surgeon], Volume 96, 1945, p. 106

In February 1944, Hays began carrying out a study of the medical supply system in the European Theater of Operations. In May, he was assigned as Chief of the Supply Division in the Office of the European Theater's Chief Surgeon, responsible for acquiring, storing and distributing blood, plasma, penicillin and other medical supplies American service members required during combat in Europe.New York Times, [https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0E11FA355C1B7B93C1AB178AD85F418485F9 U.S. Men in Britain Give Blood], January 23, 1945 He was promoted to brigadier general in May 1945. In 1945, Hays returned to the United States and was appointed chief of the Supply Division in the Office of the Surgeon General.Center of Military History, United States Army, [https://books.google.com/books?id=rJmmnRCr2TsC&q=%22silas+b+hays%22 The Medical Department: Medical Service in the European Theater of Operations], Volume 3, Volume 6, 1992, p. 187

Korean War

In May, 1950 Hays was assigned as Chief Surgeon of United States Army Pacific, and the following September he went to Japan as Chief Surgeon of the Japan Logistical Command. In this assignment he coordinated medical activities for the Korean War, including conversion of facilities to accommodate general hospital units, training and assignment of medical personnel, acquisition and distribution of medical supplies and equipment, and evacuation of the wounded and return of soldiers to duty or transfer to the United States following recovery.Military Service Publishing Company, [https://books.google.com/books?id=n6ITAQAAMAAJ&q=%22silas+b+hays%22+japan Military Medical Manual], 1952, page 262

Post-Korean War

In August, 1951 Hays was appointed Deputy Surgeon General of the United States Army and returned to Washington, D.C. He was promoted to major general in 1952, and served until March 1955 when he was appointed Surgeon General.Portsmouth Times, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0x5BAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kqgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3900,5300915&dq=silas-beach-hays&hl=en Army's Top Medico is Also Supply Whiz], May 12, 1955New York Times, [https://www.nytimes.com/1955/03/26/archives/senate-confirms-nominees.html Senate Confirms Nominees], March 26, 1955 As Surgeon General, he responded to advances in nuclear weapons by supervising efforts to develop measures for protecting Soldiers against exposure to radioactivity and treating those exposed to it. He also expanded training in management of mass casualties, and planned for construction and renovation of Army medical facilities to accommodate an Army that had increased in size substantially since the 1930s.

Hays served as Surgeon General until retiring in July 1959.New York Times, [https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0E1EF93A5C1A7B93CAA9178FD85F4D8585F9 Heaton New Army Surgeon General], April 8, 1959

Awards and decorations

{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster

{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|American Defense Service Medal

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|American Campaign Medal

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|World War II Victory Medal

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" and "Japan" clasps

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|National Defense Service Medal

{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean_Service_Medal_-_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars

106px

|Ordre de la Santé publique, Officer (France)U.S. Army Medical Department, Office of Medical History, [http://history.amedd.army.mil/surgeongenerals/S_Hays.html Biography, Silas B. Hays] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217163953/http://history.amedd.army.mil/surgeongenerals/S_Hays.html |date=2013-02-17 }}, February 20, 2009

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Croix_de_guerre_1939–1945_stripe_bronsepalme.svg|width=106}}

|Croix de Guerre with bronze Palm (France, WWII)

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|United Nations Korea Medal

Overseas Service Bars (x3)
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Retirement and death

In retirement, Hays resided in Arlington, Virginia, and was employed as Director of the Eastern Area Blood Program for the American Red Cross.New York Times, [https://www.nytimes.com/1959/06/07/archives/army-medical-chief-gets-red-cross-post.html Army Medical Chief Gets Red Cross Post], June 7, 1959

He died in Arlington on July 24, 1964,New York Times, [https://www.nytimes.com/1964/07/26/archives/mal-gen-silas-hays-dies-exarmy-surgeon-general.html Maj. Gen. Silas Hays Dies; Ex-Army Surgeon General], July 26, 1964 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 4, Grave 2914-A-1.Boston Globe, [https://archive.today/20130803074035/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/1911137022.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+26,+1964&author=&pub=Boston+Globe+(1960-1979)&desc=Silas+Hays,+62,+Former+Army+Surgeon+General&pqatl=google Silas Hays, 62, Former Army Surgeon General], July 26, 1964[https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgRoYXlzEgVzaWxhcxoBYg--/ Burial Detail: Hays, Silas B] – ANC Explorer

Legacy

Silas B. Hays Army Hospital at the now closed Fort Ord, California, was named for him.United States Army Corps of Engineers, [https://books.google.com/books?id=79E9lwEACAAJ&q=%22silas+hays%22+ord+hospital Energy Audits/energy Engineering Analysis Program: Silas B. Hays Army Community Hospital, Fort Ord, California, Draft Final Report], 1985, title page