Haydn Evans was born on August 22, 1949. His home of record is Roselle, NJ. He attended Abraham Clark High School.
He served in the US Marine Corps and attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). He was a Machine Gunner who served with the Weapons Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Batallion, 3rd Marine Reginemt, 3rd Marine Division. Evans arrived in Vietnam on February 7, 1968.
Evans was killed in action on May 31, 1968. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY. He was survived by his father, William T. Evans and mother Elizabeth Evans.
Haydn was an only child. He came from Wales, I’m not sure when they came to the United States. However, he was about 11 years old when they moved into our area. I was 4 years older than he, but I saw him almost every day, before I moved away. He was a good kid. When he was 16, he talked about becoming a Marine. His parents moved back to Wales after they lost Haydn, (I think). I can tell you the day of my wedding, while dressing, I saw the two Marines going to their house, and I knew. I finished getting dressed, and in my tucks, I visited his mom, as soon as the Marines left. (Bad timing I guess)
We made sure the minister said a few words about Haydn later that day. About his mom. She was the kindness, sweetest woman you’d ever want to meet. I think she was widowed, the more I think about it, because I never met his father. It was June 8, 1968, we married, moved away, and I wish I could tell you more about her, where she might have gone to, or even if she is alive.
It’s so strange that you contacted me, because on that same day, I was cleaning out my wallet, and I pulled out his name, which I have carried with me ever since June 8, 1968. I can tell you, I and most of generation thank God there are people like you in our country.
-James Nafus, Friend/neighbor of Haydn
Source: NJVVMF, echo23marines6569.org, Photo from VVMF.
12/17/2024
