He was not wrong, and eventually the evidence supported him.

By 1947, following a formal investigation and additional evidence — including the examination of the photograph itself and the testimony of people who had known both Block and Hansen — the Marine Corps officially corrected the record.

Harlon Block was identified as the figure formerly listed as Hank Hansen.

The Block family learned that their son had been in the photograph after all.

This correction mattered to Hayes more than most accounts of his life have taken time to explain.