Robert Edward Cornillie

1920 – 2004
WWII
Unit: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Enlisted: 1 June 1942
Discharged: 15 November 1945

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was the backbone of Allied mobility and logistics. They enabled amphibious landings from North Africa to Normandy, built and repaired roads, bridges and railways, cleared mines and obstacles under fire, constructed airfields, depots and supply bases, fought as infantry when needed and ensured the continuous flow of men, equipment and supplies.

Cornillie served in the Army in the North Africa Operation Torch.

Bob married Patricia Corrcoran on 10 January 1942 in Detroit. They raised two sets of twin boys.

AFTER THE WAR

After the war, Bob joined his father’s business, the Cornillie Management Company, which developed Woodland Lake of Hadley, Mi.  Cornillie designed and developed the Franklin Community Association baseball and athletic fields of which one is named Cornillie Field.

He loved horses and was an avid traveler!

Leland Robert Johnston

1893 – 1953
WWI
Unit: 313 th Field Signal Battalion 88 th Division Company C Sergeant
Enlisted: 8 June 1917
His parents: Edward Johnston/Florence Cox, cousin to Robert John Johnston and Art Kreger

This was a highly specific and meaningful assignment.

June – Fall 1917 – Basic training (drilling, physical conditioning)

Late 1917 – early 1918 – Specialized signal corps training

Company C trained with:
EE-8 field telephones, telegraph keys, radio sets, wire carts and reel equipment, full switchboard.

The 313 th spent much of 1918 preparing for overseas deployment

Discharge: 2 May 1918

The 88 th Division did not ship overseas until August 1918 so Johnston never deployed to France with his Division.

WHY WAS JOHNSTON DISCHARGED BEFORE DEPLOYMENT?

The War Department issued orders to identify soldiers with critical civilian technical skills, release them from service and return them to war essential industries especially electrical, telegraph, telephones and munition plants It was not optional. It was a national manpower directive. Johnston was a skilled electrician.