PFC Paul L Cordes Company C, 168th Inf., 42 Div. WWI

May 25

Grouping of my great-grandfather,

Private 1st Class Paul L Cordes

Company C, 168th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Division

Enlisted, 6APR1917 in Webster City, IA

Aged- 21

AEF Lorraine, 23FEB-23JUN1918

Champagne-Marne 15JUL1918

Chateau-Thierry/Aisne-Marne 25-27JULY1918

Saint-Mihiel 12-14SEP1918 (wounded by shrapnel, left hip)

Awarded- Purple Heart with bronze oak leaf cluster (we do not have documentation for the second award)

Victory Medal with tabs-

“Champagne-Marne”

“Aisne-Marne”

“Saint-Mihiel”

“Defensive Sector”

Returned to U.S. on 02APR1919

Honorably Discharged, 21APR1919 at Camp Dodge, IA

I was fifteen years old when my grandmother showed my great-grandfather’s things from his service with the Army in WWI. This was shortly after my grandfather passed away and I had expressed a real interest in our family’s military history. She dug deep into a cedar chest and produced a white funeral guest book. Tucked in the between the pages, were his discharge certificate with service history, Victory Medal, Purple Heart, AEF service stripes, VFW ribbons, two photos of him in uniform, and two photos of him with a group of veterans. The group photos are of my great-grandfather and nine other men labeled, “Last Man Club, Rainbow Div”. Oddly enough, there was also a small envelope containing two mint condition “Ruptured Duck” patches. He did not serve in WWII to my knowledge and was 42 years old when he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937. He was discharged from the CCC on 08AUG1941.

Nearly thirty years later, my Aunt called to tell me that she started going through the cedar chest which she had inherited from my grandmother. She asked me if i remembered anything that I may want. So, I told her what I remembered seeing of my great-grandfather’s “WWI stuff” so many years before. I received a photo via text from her the next day. BINGO! Then, she very carefully packaged the items and mailed them to me. So, here they are. Enjoy!