He was indeed a real life hero and one of the best secret agents that we had during World War Two. When Sterling was stopped by the Nazi Germany patrol gunboat, his schooner had just left Monopoli, Italy. It was in the middle of the Adriatic Sea heading for the island of Vis. (This is an island controlled by partisan guerrillas, just off the occupied coast of Dalmatia, Yugoslavia. Sterling was smuggling 400 rifles, 3000 rounds of ammunition and 10 cases of canned food. He would have been immediately executed if caught by the Nazis. The island of Vis was one of his operating bases.

He was born in 1916 in Montclair, New Jersey and as previously stated, his name was Montaigu Relyea Walter. At a young age his first name was changed to the surname of a favorite uncle, Mont Sterling. After the death of his father, Sterling took the surname of his step-father, Jim Hayden. Sterling loved the sea and soon earned the title of "ship's master." Two world cruises and a ship race caused him to become a devoted "Seafarer." This caused him to know William O. "Wild Bill" Donovan and his son as they were both skilled seamen and admired his seamanship. (William Donovan was also head of the OSS) They suggested that Sterling go to a British commando training center and he agreed, so he sailed for London, England in November of 1941. From there he was sent to Achnacary, Scotland, a special commando training center. Sterling completed this basic boot camp with "flying colors." So now his next stop was Ringway Field near Manchester, England for parachute training. Sterling was mastering this parachute practice very well until tragedy struck on his 11th jump. He landed in a rock quarry

and received a broken ankle, a torn knee cartilage and damage to the base of his spine.

So Sterling Hayden returned to the United States to recover from his injuries. Soon he married Madeleine Carroll, who had been his co-star in the movie "Virginia," but even this new marriage did not cure his restlessness. With America at war, he was afraid that people would consider him a coward because he was not in the service. As soon as Sterling had partially regained his health, he applied for a commission in the United States Navy. He wanted to become skipper of a PT Boat (motor torpedo), but due to his recent injuries and his 10th grade education, the Navy turned him down.

In order to stay busy Sterling became skipper of a cargo ship (large schooner) and sailed on a long voyage down to

Curacao island (an island about fifty miles from the northern coast of Venezuela, South America.) While the cargo was being unloaded, Sterling went on a party with six American marines. The marines were guarding the Shell oil docks against saboteurs. The party became rather boisterous so the manager of the Americano Hotel tried to evict everyone except Sterling Hayden, for he had been recognized as the American movie star. He became so enraged that he threw the manager out into the street. Needless to say, Sterling spent that night in the city jail. The next day he sold his schooner and flew back to New York City. After a short visit with his wife Madeleine, Sterling decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. He toughed out a dull boot camp in Parris island, South Carolina,  and eventually graduated.

Next Sterling became a very good marine drill instructor. Then the marine corps decided to send him to Quantico, Virginia to become an officer. When Sterling left there, he graduated as a second Lieutenant. This is when he contacted William Donovan (OSS) again for an appropriate position. Quickly Sterling was sent to station 'S', a secret Washington facility. There Sterling was given a rigorous three day screening of physical and mental agility tests. After he passed all of these tests Sterling was sent to a secret training camp for instructions in survival,  sabotage, and espionage. He learned how to send Morse code and repair radio transmitters, to kill silently with the garrote (strangulation), knife, and with his bare hands, to parachute into any kind of terrain, and how to use all kinds of allied and Nazi firearms. Here is also where Sterling Hayden became John Hamilton.

He was then sent to Cairo, Egypt to apply his skills to clandestine operations. After studying secret reports for several weeks, Sterling entered into the real action. He was finally ordered to Monopoli, Italy to take complete charge of the operations there. The Nazi patrol gunboat he captured just added to the ships he needed to run the Nazi blockade, to supply guns and food to the Yugoslavian partisans, and to supply other OSS agents in the field.

After World War Two ended, Sterling was employed in making a photographic survey of bomb damage to remaining ports and industrial facilities. He concluded his OSS service in that capacity, for President Harry Truman

disbanded the OSS on October 1st, 1945.

Sterling Hayden was certainly a real life World War Two hero. A very remarkable person. He passed away in Sausalito, California in 1986, he was 70 years old.

Sources:
World War Two Magazine May 2003- Fred B. Wrixon,
World War Two 4,139 Strange and Fascinating Facts - Don McCombs and Fred L. Worth
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