#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Mack Haynes

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Corps Veteran Mack Haynes. Mack served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

Seeking opportunity and hoping to serve his country, Mack enlisted with the Marine Corps in 1943 at the age of 17. After enlisting, Mack received training at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

From Camp Lejeune, Mack was deployed to the Pacific Theater, where he and his fellow Marines fought Japanese forces. Throughout the war, Mack served in operations across five Pacific islands.

Following the end of World War II, Mack continued his service with the Marine Corps. He spent time stationed at several military bases across the west coast before receiving deployment orders for Korea in 1950. There, he and his fellow Marines spent two years stationed in and around the 38^th parallel as part of the international coalition sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council to assist South Korean forces in their fight against Soviet backed North Korea.

Mack continued his service after leaving Korea and was deployed to Vietnam following U.S. intervention. There, he was stationed in Da Nang and participated in U.S. efforts to assist South Vietnam in their fight against the Soviet allied North Vietnamese. During his time in Vietnam, Mack was exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange, causing an illness later in life which left him with a soft voice.

Mack ended his long and decorated career with the Marine Corps in the early 1970s. On June 26, 2012, Mack and his fellow Montford Point Marines were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Mack passed away in Durham, North Carolina on Jan. 25, 2019, at the age of 93.

We honor his service.

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.