Sgt. Albert Haynes II Found Dead in Florida Hotel, Drill Instructor

Sgt. Albert Haynes II, a drill instructor assigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot-Parris Island, was found deceased in a hotel room in Starke, Florida, on May 30. He was 24. The Marine Corps said Haynes was in Florida for a poolee function with U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Station-Jacksonville when the incident occurred.

The Bradford County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death. Haynes was assigned to Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, at the time of his death.

Haynes’ Marine Corps service

Haynes was a native of Austin, Pennsylvania, and enlisted in the Marine Corps as an 0811 Field Artillery Cannoneer. After recruit training and Marine Combat Training, he attended the Field Artillery Basic Course in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

His service record listed the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a gold star in lieu of a second award, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two bronze stars in lieu of a third award, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Bradford County investigation

The investigation centers on a death that involved an active drill instructor traveling for a recruiting event, not a training-site incident at Parris Island. That leaves the Marine Corps and Bradford County investigators with the task of sorting out where the death occurred, why he was in Starke, and what happened in the hotel room.

For Marines assigned to Lima Company, the immediate next step is the investigation itself. For Haynes’ family and unit, the record now moves from his assignments and awards to the unanswered cause of death under local review.