Robert Ward Hayler (June 7, 1891 – November 17, 1980) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of vice admiral.

[6][1][2][5] Among his classmates were many future admirals during World War II, including John H. Brown Jr., William K. Harrill, Joseph R. Redman, Robert W. Cary Jr., John B. W. Waller, Wilder D. Baker, Carleton F. Bryant, Richard L. Conolly, Oliver Kessing, Frank L. Lowe, Edward L. Cochrane, Ralph O. Davis and Edward Ellsberg.

Following the United States's entry into World War I, Hayler was transferred to the battleship USS Oklahoma and participated in naval operations with the British Grand Fleet in the North Sea, Scapa Flow and the Orkney islands.

[1][2][5] Following the First World War, Hayler was ordered to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston for postgraduate training in engineering, which he completed with a Master of Science degree in October 1920.

He was subsequently ordered to the Washington Navy Yard, where he completed instruction in naval ordnance and assumed command of the destroyer USS Howard in July 1921.

[1][2] Hayler returned to the Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island, in July 1929 and remained there until May 1931, when he was assigned to the light cruiser USS Omaha under the command of Captain Andrew C. Pickens.

[1][2][8][9] Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States's entry into World War II, Hayler still served at Newport, but requested sea duty and was appointed commanding officer of the light cruiser USS Honolulu in July 1942.

Hayler then returned with Honolulu to Mare Island Navy Yard for some upgrades and repairs and embarked for South Pacific, escorting a convoy to Nouméa, New Caledonia in early November 1942.

His seamanship in bringing the Honolulu through without damage and his leadership under fire were direct factors in the sinking of the Japanese destroyer and contributed to the turning back of the enemy forces.

He then participated in the assaults in the Marianas which captured Saipan, Tinian and Palau, and received the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and a second Bronze Star Medal for his services.

[1][2][12][5] At the end of October 1944, Hayler's division participated in the Battle of Surigao Strait (the last battleship-to-battleship action in history) during the recapture of the Philippines.

As a formidable column of Japanese battleships, cruisers and destroyers advanced under cover of darkness toward the Allied invasion fleet in the Leyte Gulf, the left flank of the defending American force opened the battle: destroyers launched torpedo attacks against them as Hayler's cruisers maneuvered into gunnery range and opened fire.

Hayler was ordered back to the United States in March 1945, where he served as a member of the General Board of the Navy until the end of the war.

Vice Admiral Hayler died of pneumonia at his home on November 17, 1980, aged 89 and was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.