Memorials › Vern Austin Coverdell

Vern Austin Coverdell

7 Nov 1897 – 6 Jun 1987

Birth7 Nov 1897
Death6 Jun 1987
CemeteryRiverside Cemetery
Sterling , Logan County , Colorado , USA
Added byOur Colorado Family on 04 Sep 2010
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58160007

Bio

Vern Coverdell was born in Allendale, Missouri. He lived there for 4 years before moving to Kalispell, Montana for 4 years and then onto Clayton, Kansas. In 1909 he moved to Atwood, Colorado. He married Gertrude Kaiser 17 May 1921 in Brush, Colorado. They had 2 beautiful daughters. Vern served in the Marine Corps during World War l in France and Germany. He was wounded 3 times. One of the times was near St. Etienne, France 4 Oct 1918. He dressed his own wounds and those of three men near him while under heavy artillery and machine gun fire. He reorganized his platoon, strengthened his position and made a written report before allowing himself to be evacuated. This is documented in a letter from the Secretary of the Navy , Josephus Daniels for the President, 11 Nov 1920 in which he was presented the Navy Cross. He also received the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart with 2 palms, Silver Star, WWl Army of Occupation Medal, the French Croix de Guerre and French Fourragerre. After the war, he worked for the Sterling Advocate and was Logan County Treasurer from 1925-1928. He surved in the Army during World War ll, receiving the American Defense, Pacific-Asiatic Theater, WW ll Victory and Japan Army of Occupation medals. During WWII he held various positions. In 1941 he went through the Military Intelligence Training Center at Camp Ritchie, Maryland. He was in Commanding Officer at several POW (internment) Camps , one being in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. In 1946 he was at Headquarters Okinawa Base Command and other parts of the Pacific the letters to his family at this time had a lot of history. Vern retired as a full colonel. From 1946 until his retirement in 1963, he worked for the Veteran's Administration Regional Office in Sterling and Grand Junction, Colorado. He was a man of integrity and fairness. Respected and loved by many. Richard Davis, a second cousin to Gertrude, and his wife Janet met one of the POW's years later. They established the connection as they discussed how he ended up in the US from Germany. This gentleman had nothing but respect for Vern. News, 6 Jun 1918 The Republican-Advocate, CO - News Of Our Soldiers Navy Cross Citation The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Second Lieutenant Vern A. Coverdell (MCSN: 0-2180), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Machine-Gun Company, 5th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action near St. Etienne, France, on 4 October 1918. After being wounded, Lieutenant Coverdell dressed his own wounds and those of three men near him under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. He reorganized his platoon, strengthened his position, and made a written report before allowing himself to be evacuated.

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