By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
The Kentucky National Guard added 14 names to the Kentucky National Guard Memorial in Frankfort on Memorial Day.
The Memorial honors Kentucky Guardsmen who died during active duty, bringing the number of names on the Memorial to 269 men and women since 1912. Of the new names being added, 13 died during World War I with the other from World War II.
Those added are:
· Captain John V. Bedinger, 32, of Anchorage, Jefferson County, died of pneumonia in Liverpool, England, Oct. 20, 1918, while on federal active duty with the 151st Field Hospital, 113th Sanitary Train, 38th Division.
· Private First Class Emet Bingham, 22, of South Hill, Butler County, was killed in action in France July 28, 1918, while serving with Company E, 165th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Brigade, 42nd “Rainbow” Division.
· Private Charles J. Burckle, 27, of Louisville, Jefferson County, was killed in action in France Aug. 8, 1918, while serving with Battery A of the 146th Field Artillery, 41st Division.
· Private First Class Alfred D. Hammonds, 39, of Somerset, Pulaski County, died Feb. 5, 1945, of non-battle related causes while serving with Service Company, 149th Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division in the Philippines.
· Private Herman Hancock, 36, of Lexington, Fayette County died Feb. 28, 1917, of Pneumonia due to exposure while on federal active duty at a demobilization camp at Fort Thomas.
· Sergeant Joseph H. Holt, 28, of Paris, Bourbon County died of uremic poisoning due to kidney failure while on federal active duty at Booth’s Memorial Hospital in Covington on or about April 17, 1917.
· Corporal Alvin J. Hoops, 24, of Wysox, Butler County, died April 19, 1918, of pneumonia while on federal active duty with his unit at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.
· Private Orvil Jones, 20, of Cynthiana, Harrison County, died of spinal meningitis in the Louisville City Hospital April 16, 1917, while on federal active duty. Jones had originally be hospitalized with pneumonia. Jones was serving with the Supply Company of the 1st Kentucky Infantry Regiment.
· Private William “Lee” Kennett, 19, of Oak Hill, Hopkins County, died of pulmonary tuberculosis on Dec. 19, 1917, while on federal active duty with his unit, Company H, 149th Infantry, at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.
· Private Roy McCleese, 20, of Farmers, Rowan County, died of spinal meningitis at the Camp Shelby base hospital Dec. 21, 1917, while serving on federal active duty with his unit, Company C, 149th Infantry.
· Private Tilden Parks, 39, of Danville, Boyle County, died of wounds July 31, 1918, while on federal active duty serving with Company C, 28th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Parks was wounded in action July 20, 1918, during the Aisen-Marne Operation in France.
· Private Roy L. Roberts, 24, of Paint Lick, Garrard County died after a short illness with lobar pneumonia Dec. 11, 1917, while serving on federal active duty with his unit at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, Company G, 149th Infantry.
· Frank Henry Street, 26, of Paducah, McCracken County died of pneumonia Dec. 16, 1917, at the base hospital at Camp Shelby while on federal active duty with his unit, Company C, 149th Infantry.
· Private Ben Thompson, 19, of London, Laurel County died of lobar pneumonia while on federal active duty at Camp Shelby with his unit, Company A, 149th Infantry at the Camp Shelby base hospital Dec. 11, 1917.
The Kentucky National Guard is also continuing its observance of the 100th anniversary of World War I.
The Kentucky National Guard Memorial is located at the entrance to Boone National Guard Center off the West Plaza Connector and next to Capital City Airport in Frankfort.
