December 31, 2024 • 16 mins
This week we have letters written by PFC George Paul Corthell of Tiffin and Oak Harbor Ohio. PFC Corthell served with the 862nd Chemical Co, Aviation Operations in Europe.
I'd like to thank Hampstead NH Cable Tv for their contribution which allowed me to purchase these letters at auction.
During WW2 women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters with the intention of returning to family - but first I’d like to share who these men were, where were they from and the context of where the soldiers were and what role they played in the War.
Please sit back and get to know these members of the greatest generation. Please visit me on Facebook, or email me at warandfamily@outlook.com and help me get the letters home
Thank you for listening!
I'd like to thank Hampstead NH Cable Tv for their contribution which allowed me to purchase these letters at auction.
During WW2 women were deployed throughout Europe and the Pacific and their only means to communicate home was through letters, handwritten notes to assure those at home they were alright and waiting for letters from their loved ones to provide semblance of support and normalcy. Over the years I have collected letters with the intention of returning to family - but first I’d like to share who these men were, where were they from and the context of where the soldiers were and what role they played in the War.
Please sit back and get to know these members of the greatest generation. Please visit me on Facebook, or email me at warandfamily@outlook.com and help me get the letters home
Thank you for listening!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Welcome to Warren Family Letters Home. I'm your podcast host,
Lauren Muse. This podcast we talk about letters written home
by US servicemen and women in World War Two. I
found today's letter at auction and it's a first for
this podcaster because the letter writer was in a chemical
(00:43):
aviation company. Join me for this story and here the
Letters Home. My mission is to return World War II
history to families, one letter and one story at a time.
And it's my hope that someone will hear the podcast,
recognized family connections and contact me because these letters home,
(01:05):
they belong home. Our letter for this week's podcast was
written by Pfc. George Paul Cortel USR in the Air Corps.
(01:31):
George Paul Cortel, or Paul as he liked to be known,
was born June sixth, nineteen sixteen, in tiff And, Ohio.
He was one of nine children born to George and
Orfa Cortel, who worked their family farm in tiff And, Ohio.
On the nineteen twenty census, the family is on the
(01:51):
farm and our letter writer is four years old. On
the nineteen thirty census, we find all nine children have
been born and the farm is now identified as a
stock and grain operation. The three oldest children are now working,
William a laborer in the timber cutting industry, Robert as
(02:12):
an electrician, and Katherine as a teacher. The rest of
the children, including Paul, are still attending school Sadly, after
an eleven week illness, on September twelfth, nineteen thirty, George
Reynolds Corthel passed away, leaving his wife to raise all
(02:33):
of these children on her own. Paul was just fourteen
years old on the nineteen forty census. We find that
Rifa moved the family off the farm and rented a home,
and she took up a position as a cook. Paul
is now twenty three years old and he was employed
as a taxi cab driver, and it's noted that the
(02:54):
week prior he had worked eighty four hours. Later, in
nineteen eighteen forty, Paul went to the local Board number
one for Seneca County city of Tiffin and registered for
the draft. He is described as five foot eight and
a half inches tall, one hundred and forty pounds, with
brown hair and brown eyes, with a light complexion, and
(03:17):
at this time he is employed at Wheeler and Lace
enamel plant in Clyde, Ohio, and his mom is the
person that will always know his address. On April twentieth,
nineteen forty one, Paul married Doris H. Widner in a
newspaper marriage announcement in the Sandusky Register. It is reported
(03:41):
that the couple would make their home in Clyde, Ohio,
where Paul was employed at the Davidson Enamel plant. On
December twelfth, nineteen forty two, Paul Corthel was called up
to serve in the US Army Air Corps. The Ottawa
County Exponent reported on Friday, December twenty fifth, nineteen forty two,
(04:04):
that mister and Missus George Paul Corthel, formally of Clyde,
spent the weekend with Missus Orpha Corthel and family at Tiffin.
George Paul Corthel left Saturday for service training. Missus Corthell
will remain with her parents, Mister and Missus Harvey Widner.
(04:26):
In July nineteen forty three, the News Herald of Port Clinton,
Ohio announced the birth of a boy to Pfc and
Missus Corthel, and we find Pfc. Paul Corthel assigned to
the eight hundred and sixty second Chemical Company air operations,
(04:47):
and on October fifteenth, nineteen forty three, the Ottawa County
Exponent reported that Missus Doris Corthel has received word that
her husband, George Paul Corthelle Z has arrived safely in England.
The chemical units in the US Army Air Corps were
(05:08):
responsible for managing and handling chemicals such as incendiaries, smoke,
and flamethrowers. The smoke was used for creating smoke screens
and disrupting the movements of the enemy, or providing air
cover for airborne drops or to obscure battlefield visibility. The
(05:28):
eight hundred and sixty second was tasked with deploying chemical
agents from the air and operated with the Mighty eighth
from bases located across England. While the US was prepared
to deploy chemical gas weapons, the US refrained from using
them during World War II because of international agreements that
(05:49):
had been made after World War I, and they were
also concerned about retaliation. On November thirteenth, nineteen forty three, Pfc.
George Paul Corthell wrote a letter home to mister and
Missus Corlis of Clyde, Ohio. I'm not sure what the
connection was to the Corliss, but I did find that
(06:12):
Clyde Corlis worked at the enamel plant with Paul. The
return address was to APO six thirty four, which was
the APO location for the base at Wellingboro, England. He wrote, Hello, folks,
received your letter of September twenty seventh a few days ago.
(06:32):
Was very glad to hear from you. I have visited
London twice so far, but don't care about going back
again for a while. Anyway. I saw a lot of
the places we've always heard so much about, such as
Saint Paul's Cathedral in Downing Street, Scotland Yard, London Bridge,
Westminster Abbey, and so on. Things are much different over
(06:55):
here than back in the States. They're about twenty five
years behind the times. They do have nice subways in London,
much better than in New York. I think it was
hard to get used to their kind of money, but
I've gotten used to it now. You asked me in
your letter if I saw a Yankee doodled handy. Yes,
(07:16):
I saw it when I was at Jefferson Barracks in Missouri.
It was very good. Talking about movies, I think I've
seen more movies here than I did during all of
my army life back in the States. They're shown to
us free over here. They're all old pictures, but we
get some good ones. Well, I shall close now, and
(07:37):
thanks for your very interesting letter. Hope to hear from
you again very soon. Hope you're in the best of
health as ever. Paul PFC Corthell wrote to the Corlisses
again in April twenty third of nineteen forty four. The
APO box in his address had changed to number five
five eight, showing that he's now at the air base
(08:00):
in Bungay, England. It's time. He had a lot to say,
and actually wrote two vmails. In letter one, he writes, Hi, folks,
it is about time I'm writing. Don't you think I
received your most welcome and interesting letter of February twenty
seventh some time ago, and last Sunday I received your
(08:21):
very nice Easter greetings. Thank you very much. Everything is
going fine with me. We've had some very nice weather,
just like back home in the spring. It really makes
me homesick too. We've been working pretty hard. I don't
go out much, too tired at night. I don't think
I've been off the base in over three weeks. I
(08:43):
got lots of letters from Doris A week or so ago.
I received pictures of Jim that were taken while they
were spending a few days with you. They sure are good.
I just can't believe he's grown so much. He's learning
to walk now. I have a picture of him standing
alone on the couch. I also received the pictures of
you at your birthday party. They are very good. Looks
(09:07):
like I'll have to continue this on another page, Paul,
And in letter two, he writes, hello again. I didn't
ever recognize Marlene, Danny, Lauren, and Ronnie for quite a while.
They've grown so much since I saw them. I sure
was glad to get the pictures. You ask if I
(09:28):
know Bud Seeger. Yes, I know who he is. I
think my brother lives close to his folks over by
Green Spring. I don't think I've ever met Betty, at
least her name doesn't sound familiar. I'll bet he had
a lot to talk about when he was home. Wish
I could get home for a few days. Hope you
haven't been called yet, Clyde. My brother Bob went for
(09:51):
his physical and now he has a six month deferrol.
Hope you can get one too. They are taking them,
aren't they. Well, folks, I'm running out of words. Hope
you're all okay, and hope to see you all before
too long. Write again soon as ever, Paul. I believe
(10:12):
that Pfc Cortell completed his service in England with the
eight hundred and sixty second, and a little more than
a year later the war was over. Pfc Corthell returned
to the US on July nineteenth, nineteen forty five, aboard
the Aquitania, and in August he was given leave to
(10:32):
visit back home. From what we've learned so far, I
believe it would have been the first time that he
had seen his son, James, who now would be about
two years old. On Friday, August third, nineteen forty five,
the Ottawa County Exponent reported that Pfc George Paul Corthell
(10:53):
arrived home last week Tuesday from England. He's visiting his wife, Doris,
and James at the home of mister and Missus Harvey Widner.
Pfc Cortel spent the last twenty two months overseas in
the Air Corps. Pfc and Missus Cortel and James spent
(11:13):
last week with his mother Missus Orfha Cortel in Tiffin.
After he was discharged from the Army, Paul Corthel returned
to Tiffin, Ohio, and on the nineteen fifty census he
has his own company, Corthel Electric in Oak Harbor, and
he installed and repaired elector alarms. We also find that
(11:37):
the couple now has added another son to their family
and seven years later they would welcome a daughter. I
did find a news article about an accident that Paul
had while driving his truck. The News Herald July one,
nineteen seventy reported that, according to Oak Harbor Police, D. M.
(11:59):
Fremont was cited for improper backing after a milk truck
owned by Beatrice Foods, which he was operating, backed into
a truck being driven by George Paul Corthel of Oak Harbor.
There was moderate damage to the Corthel Electric truck. Paul
Corthel continued to live in Oakarbor through his retirement years,
(12:24):
and on July sixth, twenty eleven, the News Herald announced
his passing at age ninety five on July fourth, twenty eleven,
at north Shore Retirement Community, Lakeside. His obituary reads he
was born in Tiffan, Ohio, on June sixth, nineteen sixteen.
(12:45):
Son of George R. And Or for S. Haines Cortel,
Paul was a World War II veteran of the US
Army Air Corps, serving in Europe for over twenty five years.
He owned and operated corteaell Electric in Oak Harbor, doing
electrical repair work and selling appliances. Paul was a member
(13:08):
of Saint Paul United Church of Christ, Oak Harbor and
served on the church council for several years. He was
also a member of the VFD VFW Post eighty seven
thirty two, Oak Harbor. He's survived by his son James
and Dwayne, and his daughter Kathy, six grandchildren and five
(13:30):
great grandchildren. George Paul Corthel was buried in the Elliston
Cemetery with VFW Post eighty seven thirty two and American
Legion Post one one four providing the graveside rights. Thank
(13:53):
you for joining me to hear the story of George
Paul Crithel. If you know of the Cortel family of
Tiffin or Oakharboro, Ohio, please share my podcasts with them.
The original letters written by mister Courthel were obtained by
me through an auction site, and the funds to obtain
(14:13):
these letters was provided by Hampstead New Hampshire Cable TV.
If you would like to contribute to my mission of
returning history to families, please contact me. You can find
me on Facebook at Warren Family Letters Home, and I
can be reached via email at Warrenfamily at outlook dot com.
(14:38):
All details in this podcast were discovered by research done
by me using public military genealogy and newspaper search sites.
Please support our military, whether active or veteran status. These
men and women sacrificed to serve this great country, whether
(15:00):
in war or peacetime. We may not know them all,
but we sure owe them everything. This podcast is being
recorded on December thirty first, twenty twenty four, and i'd
like to wish everyone happy, healthy and safe twenty twenty
(15:23):
five until next week. This is Lauren Muse and you've
been listening to Warren Family Letters Home to Safer
Welcome to Warren Family Letters Home. I'm your podcast host,
Lauren Muse. This podcast we talk about letters written home
by US servicemen and women in World War Two. I
found today's letter at auction and it's a first for
this podcaster because the letter writer was in a chemical
(00:43):
aviation company. Join me for this story and here the
Letters Home. My mission is to return World War II
history to families, one letter and one story at a time.
And it's my hope that someone will hear the podcast,
recognized family connections and contact me because these letters home,
(01:05):
they belong home. Our letter for this week's podcast was
written by Pfc. George Paul Cortel USR in the Air Corps.
(01:31):
George Paul Cortel, or Paul as he liked to be known,
was born June sixth, nineteen sixteen, in tiff And, Ohio.
He was one of nine children born to George and
Orfa Cortel, who worked their family farm in tiff And, Ohio.
On the nineteen twenty census, the family is on the
(01:51):
farm and our letter writer is four years old. On
the nineteen thirty census, we find all nine children have
been born and the farm is now identified as a
stock and grain operation. The three oldest children are now working,
William a laborer in the timber cutting industry, Robert as
(02:12):
an electrician, and Katherine as a teacher. The rest of
the children, including Paul, are still attending school Sadly, after
an eleven week illness, on September twelfth, nineteen thirty, George
Reynolds Corthel passed away, leaving his wife to raise all
(02:33):
of these children on her own. Paul was just fourteen
years old on the nineteen forty census. We find that
Rifa moved the family off the farm and rented a home,
and she took up a position as a cook. Paul
is now twenty three years old and he was employed
as a taxi cab driver, and it's noted that the
(02:54):
week prior he had worked eighty four hours. Later, in
nineteen eighteen forty, Paul went to the local Board number
one for Seneca County city of Tiffin and registered for
the draft. He is described as five foot eight and
a half inches tall, one hundred and forty pounds, with
brown hair and brown eyes, with a light complexion, and
(03:17):
at this time he is employed at Wheeler and Lace
enamel plant in Clyde, Ohio, and his mom is the
person that will always know his address. On April twentieth,
nineteen forty one, Paul married Doris H. Widner in a
newspaper marriage announcement in the Sandusky Register. It is reported
(03:41):
that the couple would make their home in Clyde, Ohio,
where Paul was employed at the Davidson Enamel plant. On
December twelfth, nineteen forty two, Paul Corthel was called up
to serve in the US Army Air Corps. The Ottawa
County Exponent reported on Friday, December twenty fifth, nineteen forty two,
(04:04):
that mister and Missus George Paul Corthel, formally of Clyde,
spent the weekend with Missus Orpha Corthel and family at Tiffin.
George Paul Corthel left Saturday for service training. Missus Corthell
will remain with her parents, Mister and Missus Harvey Widner.
(04:26):
In July nineteen forty three, the News Herald of Port Clinton,
Ohio announced the birth of a boy to Pfc and
Missus Corthel, and we find Pfc. Paul Corthel assigned to
the eight hundred and sixty second Chemical Company air operations,
(04:47):
and on October fifteenth, nineteen forty three, the Ottawa County
Exponent reported that Missus Doris Corthel has received word that
her husband, George Paul Corthelle Z has arrived safely in England.
The chemical units in the US Army Air Corps were
(05:08):
responsible for managing and handling chemicals such as incendiaries, smoke,
and flamethrowers. The smoke was used for creating smoke screens
and disrupting the movements of the enemy, or providing air
cover for airborne drops or to obscure battlefield visibility. The
(05:28):
eight hundred and sixty second was tasked with deploying chemical
agents from the air and operated with the Mighty eighth
from bases located across England. While the US was prepared
to deploy chemical gas weapons, the US refrained from using
them during World War II because of international agreements that
(05:49):
had been made after World War I, and they were
also concerned about retaliation. On November thirteenth, nineteen forty three, Pfc.
George Paul Corthell wrote a letter home to mister and
Missus Corlis of Clyde, Ohio. I'm not sure what the
connection was to the Corliss, but I did find that
(06:12):
Clyde Corlis worked at the enamel plant with Paul. The
return address was to APO six thirty four, which was
the APO location for the base at Wellingboro, England. He wrote, Hello, folks,
received your letter of September twenty seventh a few days ago.
(06:32):
Was very glad to hear from you. I have visited
London twice so far, but don't care about going back
again for a while. Anyway. I saw a lot of
the places we've always heard so much about, such as
Saint Paul's Cathedral in Downing Street, Scotland Yard, London Bridge,
Westminster Abbey, and so on. Things are much different over
(06:55):
here than back in the States. They're about twenty five
years behind the times. They do have nice subways in London,
much better than in New York. I think it was
hard to get used to their kind of money, but
I've gotten used to it now. You asked me in
your letter if I saw a Yankee doodled handy. Yes,
(07:16):
I saw it when I was at Jefferson Barracks in Missouri.
It was very good. Talking about movies, I think I've
seen more movies here than I did during all of
my army life back in the States. They're shown to
us free over here. They're all old pictures, but we
get some good ones. Well, I shall close now, and
(07:37):
thanks for your very interesting letter. Hope to hear from
you again very soon. Hope you're in the best of
health as ever. Paul PFC Corthell wrote to the Corlisses
again in April twenty third of nineteen forty four. The
APO box in his address had changed to number five
five eight, showing that he's now at the air base
(08:00):
in Bungay, England. It's time. He had a lot to say,
and actually wrote two vmails. In letter one, he writes, Hi, folks,
it is about time I'm writing. Don't you think I
received your most welcome and interesting letter of February twenty
seventh some time ago, and last Sunday I received your
(08:21):
very nice Easter greetings. Thank you very much. Everything is
going fine with me. We've had some very nice weather,
just like back home in the spring. It really makes
me homesick too. We've been working pretty hard. I don't
go out much, too tired at night. I don't think
I've been off the base in over three weeks. I
(08:43):
got lots of letters from Doris A week or so ago.
I received pictures of Jim that were taken while they
were spending a few days with you. They sure are good.
I just can't believe he's grown so much. He's learning
to walk now. I have a picture of him standing
alone on the couch. I also received the pictures of
you at your birthday party. They are very good. Looks
(09:07):
like I'll have to continue this on another page, Paul,
And in letter two, he writes, hello again. I didn't
ever recognize Marlene, Danny, Lauren, and Ronnie for quite a while.
They've grown so much since I saw them. I sure
was glad to get the pictures. You ask if I
(09:28):
know Bud Seeger. Yes, I know who he is. I
think my brother lives close to his folks over by
Green Spring. I don't think I've ever met Betty, at
least her name doesn't sound familiar. I'll bet he had
a lot to talk about when he was home. Wish
I could get home for a few days. Hope you
haven't been called yet, Clyde. My brother Bob went for
(09:51):
his physical and now he has a six month deferrol.
Hope you can get one too. They are taking them,
aren't they. Well, folks, I'm running out of words. Hope
you're all okay, and hope to see you all before
too long. Write again soon as ever, Paul. I believe
(10:12):
that Pfc Cortell completed his service in England with the
eight hundred and sixty second, and a little more than
a year later the war was over. Pfc Corthell returned
to the US on July nineteenth, nineteen forty five, aboard
the Aquitania, and in August he was given leave to
(10:32):
visit back home. From what we've learned so far, I
believe it would have been the first time that he
had seen his son, James, who now would be about
two years old. On Friday, August third, nineteen forty five,
the Ottawa County Exponent reported that Pfc George Paul Corthell
(10:53):
arrived home last week Tuesday from England. He's visiting his wife, Doris,
and James at the home of mister and Missus Harvey Widner.
Pfc Cortel spent the last twenty two months overseas in
the Air Corps. Pfc and Missus Cortel and James spent
(11:13):
last week with his mother Missus Orfha Cortel in Tiffin.
After he was discharged from the Army, Paul Corthel returned
to Tiffin, Ohio, and on the nineteen fifty census he
has his own company, Corthel Electric in Oak Harbor, and
he installed and repaired elector alarms. We also find that
(11:37):
the couple now has added another son to their family
and seven years later they would welcome a daughter. I
did find a news article about an accident that Paul
had while driving his truck. The News Herald July one,
nineteen seventy reported that, according to Oak Harbor Police, D. M.
(11:59):
Fremont was cited for improper backing after a milk truck
owned by Beatrice Foods, which he was operating, backed into
a truck being driven by George Paul Corthel of Oak Harbor.
There was moderate damage to the Corthel Electric truck. Paul
Corthel continued to live in Oakarbor through his retirement years,
(12:24):
and on July sixth, twenty eleven, the News Herald announced
his passing at age ninety five on July fourth, twenty eleven,
at north Shore Retirement Community, Lakeside. His obituary reads he
was born in Tiffan, Ohio, on June sixth, nineteen sixteen.
(12:45):
Son of George R. And Or for S. Haines Cortel,
Paul was a World War II veteran of the US
Army Air Corps, serving in Europe for over twenty five years.
He owned and operated corteaell Electric in Oak Harbor, doing
electrical repair work and selling appliances. Paul was a member
(13:08):
of Saint Paul United Church of Christ, Oak Harbor and
served on the church council for several years. He was
also a member of the VFD VFW Post eighty seven
thirty two, Oak Harbor. He's survived by his son James
and Dwayne, and his daughter Kathy, six grandchildren and five
(13:30):
great grandchildren. George Paul Corthel was buried in the Elliston
Cemetery with VFW Post eighty seven thirty two and American
Legion Post one one four providing the graveside rights. Thank
(13:53):
you for joining me to hear the story of George
Paul Crithel. If you know of the Cortel family of
Tiffin or Oakharboro, Ohio, please share my podcasts with them.
The original letters written by mister Courthel were obtained by
me through an auction site, and the funds to obtain
(14:13):
these letters was provided by Hampstead New Hampshire Cable TV.
If you would like to contribute to my mission of
returning history to families, please contact me. You can find
me on Facebook at Warren Family Letters Home, and I
can be reached via email at Warrenfamily at outlook dot com.
(14:38):
All details in this podcast were discovered by research done
by me using public military genealogy and newspaper search sites.
Please support our military, whether active or veteran status. These
men and women sacrificed to serve this great country, whether
(15:00):
in war or peacetime. We may not know them all,
but we sure owe them everything. This podcast is being
recorded on December thirty first, twenty twenty four, and i'd
like to wish everyone happy, healthy and safe twenty twenty
(15:23):
five until next week. This is Lauren Muse and you've
been listening to Warren Family Letters Home to Safer
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