Military Rites For Pfc. Haynes Friday

Pfc. Merton E. Hayes

Military funeral services for Private First Class Merton E. Haynes, the husband of Mrs. Negmi (Deeb) Haynes of Cedar Street and the son of Mrs. Anne McKcage of 25 Adams Street, will be held Friday afternoon at two o clock at St. Georges Syrian Orthodox Church. Pfc. Haynes, who was killed in action in France February 9, 1945. was among the 210 of Massachusetts’ deceased servicemen returned this week from Europe at the request of their families on the U. S. Army Transport Lawrence Victory.

The body of Norwood’s heroic soldier arrived here at 9 p.m. Wednesday night under military escort and was taken to the home of his brother, Leon Haynes of 31 Wolcott Street, East Walpole, to lie in state until Friday.

Although his family had received word that the funeral ship was enroute to the New York Port, through some oversight Pfc. Haynes’ name was not included on the list of repatriated war dead made public last week by Army authorities.

Services will be held at the Haynes home in East Walpole Friday morning at 11 o’clock preceding the military rites In the afternoon. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery.

Inducted into the Infantry in April, 1944 at Fori Devens, Pfc. Haynes received further training in Florida before going overseas in November of that year. Prior to entering the service he was employed by the Kendall Mills. Born in New Hampshire, he came to Norwood as a young boy. He graduated in 1938 from Norwood High School and in 1940 was married to the former Negmi Deeb of Walpole Street. She and her six-year-old son, Merton Philip Haynes, now make their home with Mrs. Esther Deeb of Cedar Street. Pfc. Haynes is also survived by another brother, Francis Haynes.

He met his death in France just ten days before his brother-in-law George Deeb, was killed overseas with the U S. Marine Corps. He was buried in St., Mary’s Cemetery in Brittany, France before his repatriation. Funeral services will be under the direction of Gillooly’s Funeral Service, 128 Walpole Street.

(All articles were originally published in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)