Medals earned in WWII arrive for Cordes

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

KLOSSNER--Clifford Cordes stood proudly at attention in the Klossner House Saturday as DAV Junior Vice Commander Milen Spectman of Sleepy Eye pinned five military medals on his chest.

This emotional moment was a long time in coming for the 77-year-old Cordes.

Standing in front of a dinner crowd of at least 70 persons, Cordes accepted congratulations from Spectman, Brown County Veterans' Services Officer Terry Ferdinandt, family, relatives and friends.

After 56 years, Cordes finally had the Army's Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, the Rifle Sharpshooter and Honorable Service awards that he earned as a private fighting in the re-taking of the Philippines from the Japanese.

The problem is that Cordes remembers nothing of the event forced his return to the United States for medical treatment and discharge from the Army.

Cordes was part of the U.S. force that was amassed in the Gulf of Leyte. As a longshoreman with the 275th Port Company. His job was to help with the loading and unloading of ships.

In late November, 1944, Cordes was riding in an LST landing craft when it was hit by a kamikaze Japanese plane. Cordes was left with a severe case of shell-shock.

He was transferred to a general hospital in Kansas and then to a Veterans Administration facility in St. Cloud where he was discharged from the service on Jan. 19, 1945.

"I had 20 shock treatments before I was released from the service," Cordes said.

All he knows about the incident has been learned from fellow soldiers at a reunion of the 275th.

Over the years, he and his family grew concerned about possible medals to which he might be entitled.

His son, Tim, worked the Internet trying to find information that would verify his participation in the battle to re-take the Philippines because, in 1973, the Army's record storage facility in St. Louis burned. Over 80 percent of the military records, including Cordes', was destroyed.

Through perseverance, enough verification was obtained so that Cordes could finally get his medals.

The quest hasn't ended, however, for Cordes and his family are convinced he is entitled to the Purple Heart for his shell-shock.

They need two witnesses of the events of that day back in November, 1944, who can vouch for the legitimacy of Cordes receiving the medal. His son remains confident that they'll come from the remaining veterans of duty with the 275th.