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Pfc John W. Hayes was killed in action near Magoster, Belgium, when, according to witnesses, an 88-millimeter shell from a German tank struck his foxhole. Following the war, American graves registration teams had no record of Hayes’ remains being recovered. On 6 September 1951, the War Department declared his remains non-recoverable.

Following the close of hostilities in Europe in 1945, an unidentified set of remains, designated Unknown X-134 Fosse, were recovered near Soy, Belgium, approximately three miles from Mâgôster. The remains could not be identified and were interred on 4 November 1948, at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial.

Following thorough analysis of military records and American Graves Registration Command documentation by DPAA historians and scientists, Unknown X-134 Fosse, was determined to have a likely association with Hayes. Unknown X-134 Fosse was disinterred in July 2018 and sent to DPAA for analysis.

To identify Hayes’ remains, scientists from DPAA anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.

Pfc Hayes was buried at Fairview Cemetery in Memphis on 19 June 2019 in Memphis, Texas. A rosette was placed next to his name on the Tablets of the Missing at Ardennes Cemetery.