George Cordie was born March 11, 1914, at Britton in Marshall County, South Dakota, to Leonard and Mary Cordie. He had eleven siblings. He grew to manhood in the Eden, South Dakota, area.

In April 1942, George was inducted into the Army and was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He served 18 months on the Aleutian Islands. In October 1943, he was sent overseas and served in England, France, Germany, and Belgium. Pfc. Cordie served with Company H 346th Infantry Regiment 87th Infantry Division at Tillet, Belgium.

Pfc. George Cordie was killed in action January 9, 1945, at Tillet, Belgium. According to a letter received from Pfc. Cordie’s commanding officer, “Company H, the heavy weapons company, was in support of the rifle company as the attack was being made on the strategic town of Tillet, Belgium, against determined enemy opposition consisting of infantry and machine gun positions, supported by tanks and mortar and artillery fire. Pfc Cordie was killed instantly by shell fragments from an enemy artillery shell. He was buried at U.S.M.C. No. 1 at Foy, Belgium, three miles north of Bastogne. A Catholic chaplain performed the service. George gave his life in battle in the service of his country.”

The letter to Pfc. Cordie’s sister from his commanding officer James E. Armstrong also indicated that “George was well liked and admired, and loved by all the men of my command. In battle he performed his duties bravely, and was every inch of him a soldier.” Pfc. George Cordie was awarded the Purple Heart.

These days George Cordie is put to rest in the beautiful American Military Cemetery at Henri-Chapelle ... He is remembered and honored by his entire family, by the people of the State of South Dakota, by every visitor of the Henri-Chapelle cemetery and by everyone who visits the In-Honored-Glory website

Special thanks Anthony R. Hagenson and Sheila Hansen of the WWII Memorial project of the Fallen Sons and Daughters of South Dakota, to the Britton Journal and to Margaret Thuringer, Eden, SD.

A link to the South Dakota WWII Memorial can be found under the links-section "Research & Information"