Benjamin Herbert Hayes was born on May 26, 1898, at Benton Harbor, Michigan, the son of George W. and Mary Hayes. Before enlisting he worked as a mechanic.
Benjamin enlisted in the Army on December 21, 1916, in the 26th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Blue Spaders". He enlisted just in time to see action on the Mexican Border Expedition and World War 1.
The Regiment was selected as one of only four Regular Army infantry regiments deemed fit for immediate combat to form the 1st Expeditionary Division (later redesignated the 1st Division) in June 1917. Thus began the regiment's long association with the "Big Red One".
By the time the 26th Infantry Regiment was sent to France as part of the Second Brigade, 1st Division, Benjamin had been promoted to Corporal.
As part of the first American soldiers to arrive in France, the regiment immediately left for the front. Along with its sister regiments of the Division, it earned more campaign streamers than any other regiments during World War I. However, they came at a terrible cost. Over 900 Blue Spaders lost their lives in a six-month period. At Soissons alone, the regimental commander, executive officer, two of three battalion commanders and the regimental sergeant major were killed in action; sixty-two officers were killed or wounded; and of the 3,100 Blue Spaders that started the attack, over 1,500 had been killed or wounded. But the battle was won, and this turned the tide for the Allies at a crucial period during the summer of 1918.
Corporal Hayes suffered in a poison gas attack at Soissons and was wounded during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive during the summer of 1918. During this time Corporal Hayes received the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.
By the war's end, the soldiers of the 26th Infantry had earned seven battle streamers and two foreign awards. Following brief occupation duty in Germany, the regiment returned to the United States and served as a part of the smaller peacetime Army.
After Benjamin went home to Michigan City, La Porte County, Indiana, where he went to work as a crane operator for Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company.
Benjamin holds the distinction of receiving the first Draft Lottery Number in 1942 for service in World War 2. At the time he was in the Veteran's Hospital in Hines, Illinois.
He was 43 at the time and would not serve in World War 2.
Benjamin Herbert Hayes died on August 28, 1961, at the age of 63, at Bedford, Calhoun, Michigan.
Benjamin enlisted in the Army on December 21, 1916, in the 26th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Blue Spaders". He enlisted just in time to see action on the Mexican Border Expedition and World War 1.
The Regiment was selected as one of only four Regular Army infantry regiments deemed fit for immediate combat to form the 1st Expeditionary Division (later redesignated the 1st Division) in June 1917. Thus began the regiment's long association with the "Big Red One".
By the time the 26th Infantry Regiment was sent to France as part of the Second Brigade, 1st Division, Benjamin had been promoted to Corporal.
As part of the first American soldiers to arrive in France, the regiment immediately left for the front. Along with its sister regiments of the Division, it earned more campaign streamers than any other regiments during World War I. However, they came at a terrible cost. Over 900 Blue Spaders lost their lives in a six-month period. At Soissons alone, the regimental commander, executive officer, two of three battalion commanders and the regimental sergeant major were killed in action; sixty-two officers were killed or wounded; and of the 3,100 Blue Spaders that started the attack, over 1,500 had been killed or wounded. But the battle was won, and this turned the tide for the Allies at a crucial period during the summer of 1918.
Corporal Hayes suffered in a poison gas attack at Soissons and was wounded during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive during the summer of 1918. During this time Corporal Hayes received the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.
By the war's end, the soldiers of the 26th Infantry had earned seven battle streamers and two foreign awards. Following brief occupation duty in Germany, the regiment returned to the United States and served as a part of the smaller peacetime Army.
After Benjamin went home to Michigan City, La Porte County, Indiana, where he went to work as a crane operator for Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company.
Benjamin holds the distinction of receiving the first Draft Lottery Number in 1942 for service in World War 2. At the time he was in the Veteran's Hospital in Hines, Illinois.
He was 43 at the time and would not serve in World War 2.
Benjamin Herbert Hayes died on August 28, 1961, at the age of 63, at Bedford, Calhoun, Michigan.
Benjamin Herbert Hayes was born on May 26, 1898, at Benton Harbor, Michigan, the son of George W. and Mary Hayes. Before enlisting he worked as a mechanic.
Benjamin enlisted in the Army on December 21, 1916, in the 26th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Blue Spaders". He enlisted just in time to see action on the Mexican Border Expedition and World War 1.
The Regiment was selected as one of only four Regular Army infantry regiments deemed fit for immediate combat to form the 1st Expeditionary Division (later redesignated the 1st Division) in June 1917. Thus began the regiment's long association with the "Big Red One".
By the time the 26th Infantry Regiment was sent to France as part of the Second Brigade, 1st Division, Benjamin had been promoted to Corporal.
As part of the first American soldiers to arrive in France, the regiment immediately left for the front. Along with its sister regiments of the Division, it earned more campaign streamers than any other regiments during World War I. However, they came at a terrible cost. Over 900 Blue Spaders lost their lives in a six-month period. At Soissons alone, the regimental commander, executive officer, two of three battalion commanders and the regimental sergeant major were killed in action; sixty-two officers were killed or wounded; and of the 3,100 Blue Spaders that started the attack, over 1,500 had been killed or wounded. But the battle was won, and this turned the tide for the Allies at a crucial period during the summer of 1918.
Corporal Hayes suffered in a poison gas attack at Soissons and was wounded during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive during the summer of 1918. During this time Corporal Hayes received the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.
By the war's end, the soldiers of the 26th Infantry had earned seven battle streamers and two foreign awards. Following brief occupation duty in Germany, the regiment returned to the United States and served as a part of the smaller peacetime Army.
After Benjamin went home to Michigan City, La Porte County, Indiana, where he went to work as a crane operator for Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company.
Benjamin holds the distinction of receiving the first Draft Lottery Number in 1942 for service in World War 2. At the time he was in the Veteran's Hospital in Hines, Illinois.
He was 43 at the time and would not serve in World War 2.
Benjamin Herbert Hayes died on August 28, 1961, at the age of 63, at Bedford, Calhoun, Michigan.
Benjamin enlisted in the Army on December 21, 1916, in the 26th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Blue Spaders". He enlisted just in time to see action on the Mexican Border Expedition and World War 1.
The Regiment was selected as one of only four Regular Army infantry regiments deemed fit for immediate combat to form the 1st Expeditionary Division (later redesignated the 1st Division) in June 1917. Thus began the regiment's long association with the "Big Red One".
By the time the 26th Infantry Regiment was sent to France as part of the Second Brigade, 1st Division, Benjamin had been promoted to Corporal.
As part of the first American soldiers to arrive in France, the regiment immediately left for the front. Along with its sister regiments of the Division, it earned more campaign streamers than any other regiments during World War I. However, they came at a terrible cost. Over 900 Blue Spaders lost their lives in a six-month period. At Soissons alone, the regimental commander, executive officer, two of three battalion commanders and the regimental sergeant major were killed in action; sixty-two officers were killed or wounded; and of the 3,100 Blue Spaders that started the attack, over 1,500 had been killed or wounded. But the battle was won, and this turned the tide for the Allies at a crucial period during the summer of 1918.
Corporal Hayes suffered in a poison gas attack at Soissons and was wounded during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive during the summer of 1918. During this time Corporal Hayes received the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.
By the war's end, the soldiers of the 26th Infantry had earned seven battle streamers and two foreign awards. Following brief occupation duty in Germany, the regiment returned to the United States and served as a part of the smaller peacetime Army.
After Benjamin went home to Michigan City, La Porte County, Indiana, where he went to work as a crane operator for Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company.
Benjamin holds the distinction of receiving the first Draft Lottery Number in 1942 for service in World War 2. At the time he was in the Veteran's Hospital in Hines, Illinois.
He was 43 at the time and would not serve in World War 2.
Benjamin Herbert Hayes died on August 28, 1961, at the age of 63, at Bedford, Calhoun, Michigan.
Inscription
Michigan, Cpl Co E 26 Inf, 1 Division, World War I
SS - PH & OLC
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