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Note: James Franklin Bridges attended schools in Mobile, Alabama. He then worked in the textile mill industry as did his father and siblings.
He was a member of the 4th Alabama Infantry trained in 1916, at Vandiver Parker, later named Camp Sheridan, for Mexican Border service. The commanding officer for Company H was Captain Herman Winkler Thompson. James along with his company was sent to Nogales, Arizona to train for helping to capture Pancho Villa during the Mexican Border dispute. The 4th Alabama infantry was designated the 167th Infantry Regiment in 1917 when war was declared on Germany, he returned to Alabama to train for fighting in France. On August 28, 1918 he, along with his unit, left for Camp Mills at Long Island, New York. In November of 1917 he received orders to embark for France. He fought in France during World War 1 with Douglas McArthur's brigade the 42nd Division also called the "Rainbow Division". In July 1918 the Rainbow Division was called into action during the Battle of Chateau -Thierry. On July 27-28 Company H took took a number of casualties when they crossed the Ourcq River under heavy machine gun and artillery fire. This area is located just an hours drive from Paris, France and 20 miles northeast of Chateau-Thierry in the Champagne country. His unit was at the front longer than any other U.S. regiment. He was killed in action on July 27, 1918 in the battle of the Ourcq River. For the Rainbow Division, this was the bloodiest day of the war.
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