Haynes was active in football and track teams during his time at the university and was the vice president of Delta Phi Alpha fraternity in his senior year.

[1][2][3] Following his graduation, he worked as reporter for the Dallas Morning News, but after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he decided to volunteer for the military service.

Haynes subsequently took part in the extensive training and finally sailed to the Pacific theater in early October 1944, reaching Hawaii during the same month.

The regiment fought to secure Mount Suribachi until the morning of February 23, when the mountain was captured and a flag raised on top of the summit by a patrol from E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines.

He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for his actions as operations manager for the regiment and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.

[1][5][6] Following Iwo Jima, the 28th Marines sailed back for Hawaii in order to prepare for the Invasion of Japan, but the surrender of the Empire at the beginning of September 1945 changed their plans.

He was ordered to Washington, D.C., for duty at Headquarters Marine Corps with the division of Plans and Policies and served in that capacity under Brigadier General Gerald C. Thomas until June 1949, when he was promoted to the rank of major and transferred back to his native Texas.

[2] He then spent three years as associate professor of naval science at the University of Texas at Austin and was ordered for instruction to the Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico, Virginia, in June 1952.

Upon the completion of the school in June 1953, Haynes was transferred to Japan and appointed Combat Intelligence Officer at the staff of 3rd Marine Division under Major General Robert H. Pepper.

From March until September 1954, Haynes served as executive officer of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines in South Korea and took part in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

[1][9] Following a brief leave at home, Haynes assumed duties as Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Leonard F. Chapman, Jr., who had just been appointed to office.

Haynes was promoted to the rank of major general on September 8, 1971, and assumed command of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, three weeks later.

[1][2] Haynes served as the commanding general of Camp Lejeune until the end of August 1975 and then began his last tour of duty as deputy chief of staff for research, development and studies at Headquarters Marine Corps.

[4][5] Major General Fred Elmore Haynes Jr. died on March 25, 2010, in New York City and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.