Charles Lewis Hayden, 80, a retired teacher, died Thursday, May 21, 1998, at a North Richland Hills hospital. He was born Dec. 14, 1917, in St. Francis, Ark. He graduated from Piggott High School in Piggott, Ark., as a star athlete. With many scholarship offers, he attended Santa Clara College in California two years, graduated from Arkansas State College and received a master's degree in education from Sul Ross State University. During his college years, he was invited to the U.S. Olympic trials to compete in the decathlon under the training of Coach Bear Bryant.

His Olympic plans were interrupted by the onset of World War II. During the war, he served as an Army first lieutenant with the 11th Airborne Division, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Company B, in the South Pacific. As a parachute infantry unit commander, he made history with a predawn jump into the Philippines Los Banos internment camp where 5,000 civilian internees were liberated only hours before their rumored massacre. Lt. Hayden was awarded five Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart and a Presidential Unit Citation.

He began his teaching and coaching career in Newport, Ark. He moved to Arlington in 1959 where he taught and coached until his retirement from Arlington Independent School District in 1978.

He received a great deal of satisfaction and pride in his former students' achievements. After his retirement, he continued his athletic endeavors by competing and winning many state and national titles in the Senior Olympics. He held the Masters Track and Field world record in the 70 and up age division in the triple jump. Two of his 1988 Texas records remain unbroken in the shot put and javelin events. In recent years, he was an inspiration to others in how he dealt with his many health challenges.

Coach Hayden is survived by his wife of 49 years, Allien Carter Hayden of Arlington, (originally from Evening Shade, Ark.); sons, Russ Hayden and his wife, Michele, of San Antonio and Ronnell Hayden and his fiancée, Karen Bridal of New York; daughters and son-in-law, Janette Haywood and her husband, Paul, of Denton and Jonia Hayden of Dallas; seven grandchildren; two nieces; and two nephews.

Grave marker of Charles L. Hayden in Arlington Cemetery, Arlington (Tarrant county), Texas.

2/Lt Hayden arrived in the 508th PIR at an unknown date while the regiment was posted at Camp Mackall during the summer of 1943.

He remained with Co F during the following three months and on 8 November 1943 was transferred to the 541st Parachute Infantry Regiment.  Based on his obituary, at left, he was later transferred to the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

The 541st PIR never saw action and was used to train replacements for overseas duty.  The 511th embarked to the Pacific in May 1944 and Lt Hayden was apparently a member at the time.