General Pershing's Interpreter and Quartermaster

[kanemono]

Gustave Porges was born in Prague, Bohemia on March 7, 1863. He was a graduate of the University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. He arrived in the United States aboard the S.S. Eden from Bremen, Germany, at the Port of New York on April 11, 1886. Porges entered the United States Army with the rank of Captain, Quartermaster Corps, at Fort Niagara, New York, in May of 1917. He sailed to Europe with General Pershing in May of 1917. Upon arrival in England he was ordered to France as an interpreter and to establish ports of embarkation, communications, depots and ports of debarkation. Porges was assigned as the assistant Chief Quartermaster in Paris, France, and was responsible for foreign purchases of clothing, equipage, forage and bedding for the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. He served as a consultant in ways to teach American officers, in the field, sufficient French to communicate with French officers. After the Armistice he was ordered to England by General Pershing to liquidate surplus war materials. Porges was part of a commission to write the history of the United States involvement in the First World War. Porges returned to the United States in June in 1919. Colonel Gustave Porges received the following decorations: The United States Distinguished Service Medal, The Victory Medal, the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, the French Legion of Honor, the Belgium Officer of the Crown, the Polish Bravery Cross, the Japanese Gold Medal of Service, the Montenegro Prince David Officer Order, the Yugoslavian Officer of the White Eagle, the Norwegian Saint Olaf Order and the Romanian Order of the Star of Romania with Crossed Swords. He served as the President of the United Pure Foods Corporation, President of the Strohmeyer and Arpe Company, Member of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York, he was on the Commission of Foreign Trade and Revenue, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Certificate by Mayor LaGuardia of New York City and was a National Councilor for the United States Chamber of Commerce. Gustave Porges died in Manhattan, New York on May 12, 1940 and is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

 

 

[kanemono]

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[kanemono]

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[joeclown]

Amazing

[USMCR79]

Have you obtained his mini medal group also - It is pretty impressive - The mini medal group was originally found in an antique/toy soldier shop in the French Quarter of New Orleans in the early 1990's by a friend of mine - it took awhile to attribute it to Portages - Last I heard it was in the collection of another forum member.

 

Bill

[Major Z]

This is an amazing set of medals. I collect just Quartermaster material and I'm very impressed by your grouping. I'm pleased it still exists! Thanks for sharing.

[manayunkman]

Very nice historic group.

[USMCR79]

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/19544-post-your-miniature-medals/page-7?hl=porges&do=findComment&comment=1419543

 

Mini Medals

 

Bill

[RustyCanteen]

Very nice (both the collection and the write up), thank you for sharing it.

[aerialbridge]

Nicely engraved DSM, NY CSC, and stunning group of foreign awards, thanks for posting.