John Hayes (sailor)
John Hayes (20 July 1832 - 28 January 1911) was a veteran of the American Civil War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor. Biography. Hayes was born in the Colony of Newfoundland, but left his home at an early age to work on British and American merchant vessels in the years leading up to the Civil War. He joined the United States Navy in December 1861. He served throughout the Civil War and was discharged in August 1868. Later in 1868, Hayes moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and served on several ships that sailed the Great Lakes . He soon abandoned his naval lifestyle and settled down on a farm in Wisconsin and married. Near the end of his life, Hayes moved to Blairstown, Iowa, to be near his daughter. He died in January 1911. Battle of Cherbourg. In June 1864, Hayes was serving as the second captain of the number two gun of the . The ship was pursuing the CSS "Alabama", a successful commerce raiding ship. On June 19, 1864, the "Kearsarge" found the "Alabama" off of the coast of the French port of Cherbourg. The two ships battled, and the "Alabama" was destroyed in less than  an hour. The accuracy of the gun operated by Hayes was instrumental in sinking the "Alabama". Hayes received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.