Private Robert William Cordray
World War I Veteran - 126 Infantry Regiment
March 6, 2023 - February 18, 1892, four days after Valentine’s Day, Robert William Cordray was born in the far east Texas town of Shelbyville (Shelby County) to Phoebe Isabell Gellatly and William Henry “Willie” Cordray. He was the oldest of eight children that included brothers, John Wesley (1899), Charles (1902), Willie (1905) and Henry Paul (1909) along with sisters Viola (1894), Annie Mae (1897), and Mary Ruth (1907). Tragically brother Charles died in infancy at the age of three. The family lived on a farm and no doubt each of the children had specific chores to help out.
With the United States declaring war on Germany on April 6, 1917, nearly three years after the World War began in Europe, a national army was needed and the Selective Service Act of 1917 provided for this through conscription. The first of three draft registrations was held on June 5, 1917 for men between the ages of 21 and 30. Robert now 26 complied by registering at Precinct 2 in Shelby County from his residence in Choice. He was self-employed as a farmer, single, claimed no exemptions from the draft and was described as short, medium built with gray eyes and light hair.
One year later Uncle Sam came calling and he took the oath of enlistment on June 23, 1918 in Center, Texas (county seat). Robert and other inductees were sent to Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas for basic training with the 165 Depot Brigade. On July 27 he was reassigned to Company A, 154 Infantry Regiment, 39 Infantry Division, Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. He departed with the first units of the division for France on August 6, 1918. Upon arrival the 39 Division was designated as a replacement division and Private Cordray was reassigned to Company D, 126 Infantry Regiment, 32 Infantry Division. The 126 participated in combat service with the 32 Division at Haute-Alsace Sector, Aisne-Marne Offensive, Oise-Aisne Offensive and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The division captured 2,153 prisoners and suffered 13,392 casualties. The Armistice ending the World War was signed November 11, 1918 and Robert had survived. The division then took up occupation duty in Germany crossing the Sauer River to a sector in the Coblenz Bridge-head.
On April 28, 1919 at age 27 Robert and his comrades of the 126 Regiment departed Brest France aboard the USS F. J. Luckenbach bound for New York Harbor. He listed his mother Belle of Choice, Texas as the next of kin. On the way the Luckenbach ran into a hurricane and lost one engine and propeller. The rolling was reported so bad that it was feared she would capsize but a big sail was dragged out and lashed on the fore rigging. For several days the Luckenbach made but slim headway with one engine and the aid of the canvas. Half a dozen men had suffered broken bones, jaws, legs and arms along with severe cuts and lacerations. The ship was then diverted to Boston, Massachusetts arriving May 14 (Boston Globe Newspaper, May 14, 1919). The newspaper article went on to say the “126 Infantry is the outfit which was so highly commended for breaking through the line at Kemunde Stelling”. Following welcome home receptions the soldiers were transported to Camp Devens, Massachusetts for discharge processing. Ten days later Private Robert Cordray was once again a civilian having seen and experienced more in the past eleven months than many do in a lifetime.
Returning to Shelby County he returned to the life of farming and married Mary Elizabeth Strong on March 11, 1928. They raised three daughters, Edna, Lavern and Margarete. Life continued as it does and Robert would see the beginning and ending of another World War. At age 50 he would not be called to service but did have to register for the selective service which he did on April 27, 1942 in Center. He was still self-employed as a farmer, five foot eight inches tall, light complexed, with blue eyes and gray hair.
Robert eventually retired from farming and moved to Route 1, Box 265 AA, Center, Texas. During the Christmas season of 1975 he became ill and entered Center Memorial Hospital where he died of pneumonia on New Year’s Day, 1976 at the age of 83. Services were held January 3 at 2 p.m. in the Mangum Funeral Home Chapel, Center, Texas with Rev. H. O. Bonner and Rev. Gene Kirkley officiating. Burial was in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Texas. Survivors at that time included; wife Mary Elizabeth; three daughters, Mrs. Edna Carter, Mrs. Lavern Yarborough and Mrs. Janell Daniels all of Houston, Texas; two sisters, Annie Russell and Ruth Minter, both of Houston, Texas; two brothers, Wesley Cordray of Waskom and Paul Cordray of Shelbyville, Texas; three grandchildren. Day is done, God is nigh.
