Benjamin Herbert Hayes

1898 - 1961

Army
WWI

Their Story

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 in the Mexican Border Expedition and World War I.

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 re-designated the 1st Division) in June 1917. Thus began the regiment’s long association with the “Big Red One“, the name the 1st Division was known as, ever since.

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 was caught 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 Regiment 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 came home to Michigan City, La Porte County, Indiana, he went to work as a crane operator for Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company.

Benjamin married Dorothea E. Gloff, on February 20, 1931.

Benjamin holds the distinction of receiving the first draft lottery number in 1942 for service in World War II. At the time, he was in the Veteran’s Hospital in Hines, Illinois. (Taken from

He was 43 and would not serve in World War II.

Benjamin Herbert Hayes died on August 28, 1961, at the age of 63, at Bedford, Calhoun, Michigan.

Benjamin Herbert Hayes (1898-1961) – Find a Grave Memorial

References

Find a Grave, database and images Benjamin Herbert Hayes (1898-1961) – Find a Grave Memorial (accessed 26 October 2022), memorial page for Benjamin H Hayes (26 May 1898–28 Aug 1961), Find a Grave Memorial ID 59771048, citing Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Paul Mack (contributor 47145486) .

National Cemetery Administration. U.S., Veterans’ Gravesites, ca.1775-2019 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. From U.S., Veterans’ Gravesites, ca.1775-2019 – Ancestry.com (Accessed 10/24/2022)

Ancestry.com. U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910-1939 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910-1939 – Ancestry.com  (Accessed 10/24/2022)

Wikipedia contributors, “26th Infantry Regiment (United States),” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26th Infantry Regiment (United States) – Wikipedia (accessed October 24, 2022).

Wikipedia contributors, “26th Infantry Regiment (United States),” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26th Infantry Regiment (United States) – Wikipedia (accessed October 26, 2022)

Wikipedia contributors, “Silver Star,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Silver Star – Wikipedia (accessed October 25, 2022).

The Indianapolis Star, 19 Mar 1942, Page 9, https://www.newspapers.com/image/104873826/?terms=%22Benjamin%20Hayes%22%20&match=1 (Accessed 10/25/2022)

432 ww1 soldier silhouette stock photos, vectors, and illustrations are available royalty-free https://www.shutterstock.com/search/ww1-soldier-silhouette (Accessed 6/9/2023)