Cpl. Sidney Manning, Medal of Honor

Sidney Earnest Manning (1892-1960) was one of two Alabama natives (the other being Osmond Kelly Ingram) awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor during World War I. On July 28, 1918, near Sergy, France, and the Ourcq River during the Aisne-Marne Operation, Manning, a corporal, assumed command of an automatic rifle platoon after two higher-ranking platoon leaders were injured or killed. He then provided fire cover for the men in his platoon so they could link up with others, refusing shelter until all the men had reached safety. He was wounded nine times. For his bravery, Gen. John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), listed Manning's heroic deeds as one of the ten most courageous acts of the war.

Manning was born on July 17, 1892, in Butler County, to Barney Austin and Sarah Elizabeth Vickery Manning; he had three brothers and one sister. Early in his childhood, the family moved to a farm in Flomaton, Escambia County. His draft registration card lists farming as his occupation and that he was married. He had two children with Mamie Knowles Manning, one of whom died in infancy while he was serving overseas. He registered for the draft in June 1917 and was assigned to the Fourth Alabama Infantry. In August, the Fourth Alabama was federalized as the U.S. 167th Infantry Regiment. The regiment was part of the Forty-second "Rainbow Division," a newly created unit that was comprised of National Guardsmen from 26 states and Washington, D.C. The 167th was commanded by the recently promoted Col. William Preston Screws. Manning was assigned to Company G, 167th Infantry Regiment. The Forty-second arrived in France in February 1918.

By mid-July, the German Army had pushed their way into the Château-Thierry region of France. It advanced ever closer to Paris during this wide-ranging spring offensive, hoping to win the war before the United States could become more fully engaged. To prevent further German advancement, the Allied forces launched a counter-offensive in the Aisne-Marne region, an area of weakness for the German Army. Alongside their French counterparts, Pershing and the AEF initiated their assault in July. The 167th by then was a battle-tested and proven outfit. At La Croix Rouge Farm (July 24-26), the Alabama troops were successful in breaking through the defenses of the heavily fortified farmhouse held by the Germans, at times fighting hand-to-hand combat and suffering 162 killed. The overall casualty rate was high for the Forty-second, which suffered 6,500 casualties during the offensive.

On July 28, the 167th was ordered north to cross the Ourcq River and capture a German position at Sergy. This small township lies just southeast of Fére-en-Tardenois and the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in the Aisne department. In the assault, the two highest ranking officers in the automatic rifle platoon (of which Manning was a member) were either injured or killed. Manning assumed command of the platoon although already severely wounded himself.

Undeterred, Manning was able to regroup and lead the 35 remaining men, all the while providing cover fire with his automatic rifle. He received additional wounds but refused medical treatment. Because of his heroic efforts, the consolidated platoon completed its objective. The victory came with a cost: all but seven of the men were either injured or killed.

Gen. Pershing personally awarded Manning the Medal of Honor in March 1919 while the Forty-second Division was stationed in Remagen, Germany, as part of the Army of Occupation. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart; the French Croix de Guerre (Cross of War) and Médaille Militaire (Military Medal); the Croce al Merito di Guerra (War Merit Cross) from Italy; and the Medalja za Hrabrost (Medal for Bravery) from Montenegro. While in France, in addition to suffering grave wounds, Manning learned that both his infant daughter and a younger sister had died.

Manning returned to Flomaton in 1919. Reportedly, the town planned a big celebration, which the humble Manning avoided by disembarking the train early. He participated in vocational training related to agriculture in Greensboro, Hale County, before returning to Flomaton. At some point, he also had been trying to enroll in similar training in Mississippi, but his application was denied by the government because of his numerous injuries. In 1921, Manning attended the inaugural Veterans Day wreath laying event, at the U.S. government's request, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C. State representative John Coleman of Marshall County pushed a bill through the legislature in 1935 that allocated financial support to Manning for the purchase of a farm and equipment. Manning died on December 15, 1960, in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Montgomery, Montgomery County. He is buried at Little Escambia Cemetery in Flomaton. In July 1976, the city of Flomaton erected a monument to Manning in Lion's Park; it was later moved to its current location in the Flomaton Welcome Center.

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The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the

Medal of Honor

to

MANNING, SIDNEY E.

Rank and Organization: Corporal, U.S. Army Company G, 167th Infantry, 42d Division. Place and Date: Near Breuvannes, France, 28 July 1918. Entering service at: Flomaton, Ala. Born: 17 July 1892, Butler County, Ala. G. O. No.: 44, W.D., 1919.

Citation:

When his platoon commander and platoon sergeant had both become casualties soon after the beginning of an assault on strongly fortified heights overlooking the Ourcq River, Cpl. Manning took command of his platoon, which was near the center of the attacking line. Though himself severely wounded he led forward the 35 men remaining in the platoon and finally succeeded in gaining a foothold on the enemy's position, during which time he had received more wounds and all but 7 of his men had fallen. Directing the consolidation of the position, he held off a large body of the enemy only 50 yards away by fire from his automatic rifle. He declined to take cover until his line had been entirely consolidated with the line of the platoon on the front when he dragged himself to shelter, suffering from 9 wounds in all parts of the body.

The Alabama National Guard’s Company G of the 167th Infantry was just starting its assault on a fortified, elevated position in Jul. 1918 when the platoon commander and platoon sergeant were both killed. Cpl. Sidney E. Manning was also severely wounded but rallied the 35 surviving members of the platoon and continued the assault.

He took the objective with only seven of his men still alive and, despite his own wounds, provided cover for the rest of the platoon with an automatic rifle until his company was fully deployed on the hill. He survived the battle and was awarded the Medal of Honor.

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