Bingham, Emet (P1R, C1, L2)

Private First Class Emet Bingham, 22, of South Hill, Butler County, was killed in action in France on July 28, 1918 while serving with Company E, 165 th Infantry Regiment, 83 rd Infantry Brigade, 42nd “Rainbow” Division.

No records detailing the exact circumstances of his death have been found. Based on the date of his death and the unit he was serving with, it is likely that he was killed in the Second Battle of the Marne (15 July – 6 August 1918).

On 27 July Field Order No. 26, was issued ordering a night crossing of the Ourcq River and bayonet attack of the German positions during the night time hours of 27-28 July. On Sunday, 28 July the 42 nd was in the order of battle and in what was phase 2 of the battle, the 42 nd attacked and captured a strong natural position beyond the river and held it through several counter attacks. Bingham was likely killed during this portion of the fighting. i

The 42d Division, which relieved the 26th near La Croix Rouge Farm, succeeded in crossing the Ourcq on July 28. Just north of that river it engaged in stubborn fighting, some points changing hands as many as four times. It captured Sergy and Seringes-et-Nesles and persistently fought its way forward until relieved on August 3 during the pursuit of the enemy toward the Vesle. … When taken out of the battle the 42d had advanced 7 miles and had suffered almost 6,500 casualties. ii

Bingham Enlisted in the Kentucky National Guard’s Company K, 3 Infantry Regiment in Bowling Green on August 26, 1916. On February 11, 1917, he was assigned to Company B. In October 1917 he was listed with the 2 Company MP Camp Shelby Mississippi until November 5th. He then returned to Company B which was now called the 149 th infantry until May of 1918. He was part of the Camp Shelby Replacement Draft and was eventually assigned to Company E of the 165th Infantry Regiment where he served until his death. Bingham was promoted to Private in August 1917. Bingham arrived overseas with his unit on June 12, 1918 and was promoted Private First Class in July 1918.

Bingham is buried in Plot B Row 1 Grave 6 of the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery at Seringes-et- Nesles, France.

Bingham's name was approved for addition to the Kentucky National Guard Memorial on October 19, 2017.

NOTE: Bingham has also been listed in newspapers as and the book Soldiers of the Great War where the above photo was found as Emmett. His enlistment papers, his signature on his initial enlistment and his listing with the American Battle Monuments Commission all show his first name as Emet.

Map courtesy – Page 68 - American Armies and Battlefields in Europe U.S. Government Printing Office, American Armies and Battlefields in Europe, © 1938/1992, Center of Military History, United States Army, U.S. Government Printing Office, Hardcover, 547 Pages. 940.4--dc20. Prepared By The American Battle Monuments Commission, 1938, Government Printing Office.

i Reilly, Henry J. Americans All: The Rainbow at War Official History of the 42nd Rainbow Division in the World War. Columbus, OH.: The F. J. Heer Printing Co., Publishers, 1936. Chapter XVI, “The Battle of the Ourcq Compels the Germans to Entirely Evacuate the Marne Salient,” pp. 311-334

ii Page 40 - American Armies and Battlefields in Europe, © 1938/1992, Center of Military History, United States Army, U.S. Government Printing Office. Prepared By The American Battle Monuments Commission, 1938, Government Printing Office.