Harvey J. Haywood was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on November 4, 1893. Haywood was the son of David Haywood, longtime chief butler at the Executive Mansion. He joined Company E of the 24th Infantry on March 2, 1915, and, under the command of Gen. John J. Pershing, pursued Francisco "Pancho" Villa into Mexico as part of the "Punitive Expedition" during the Mexican border crisis in 1916. During US involvement in World War I, Haywood served stateside and was promoted twice, reaching the rank of corporal in August 1918. Following the armistice, Haywood re-enlisted and moved with the 24th to Fort Benning, Georgia. He remained there as a member of the 24th up through 1940 and retired from the service with the rank of staff sergeant. Haywood died on December 5, 1951, and is buried in the Ft. Benning Post Cemetery.