PAUL W. REDEKER
Charles Redeker (left) with his older brother Paul who is shown wearing the Distinguished Service Cross and the French Croix de Guerre. Photo Courtesy Don’a Nelson.
Paul W. Redeker was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Redeker of Manistique. He was born in Manistique in March of 1897 and attended area schools. In May of 1917, Redeker enlisted in the 33rd Michigan Infantry which was later federalized and became part of Company M, 125th United States Infantry. The Distinguished Service Cross was awarded to Paul W. Redeker, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Sergy, northeast of Chateau-Thierry, France, July 31, 1918. Corporal Redeker twice volunteered to carry messages from company headquarters to the battalion post of command through heavy machine gun fire and artillery barrage. He assisted in gathering the elements of the company together after the assault. He volunteered for every dangerous duty and in broad daylight, in full sight of the enemy, dragged wounded to places of shelter. The French government also honored Redeker with the Croix de Guerre medal. Redeker survived the war and graduated from the Michigan College of Mining and Technology in Houghton in 1926. He passed away in July of 1956 at age 59 and is buried in Fairview Cemetery.
CHARLES REDEKER
Charles Redeker was born in Manistique in 1899. He enlisted in the army on October 15, 1918, near the end of the war. He was discharged two months later in December. He passed away in June of 1979 at age 80.