N'afọ 1960, Onyeisiala Dwight D. Eisenhower họpụtara Timberlake ka ọ bụrụ onye nnọchiteanya mbụ nke United States na Democratic Republic of the Congo, bụ́ mba ọhụrụ nweere onwe ya, nke bụbu ógbè Belgium. N'oge Nsogbu Congo
, Hayes bụ onye na-akwado Mobutu Sese Seko, ma na-akwado ịkwatu Patrice Lumumba. Na Machị 1961, Hayes n'onwe ya nyere iwu ka ụgbọ mmiri ise nke United States Navy banye na mmiri dị na Congo, ihe omume nke jidere ọchịchị Kennedy na mberede.