Pride and Patriotism: Stamford’s Role in World War II
Online Edition
Biography
Cortland Mehl, Sr.
Cortland A. Mehl served in the Civilian Conservation Corps as a youth. He also served as a corporal in the New York National Guard until 1942. In November of that year he went to Officer’s Cadet School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was stationed until 1943.
He went to the South Pacific Theatre in 1943. He participated in the Guadalcanal Campaign and in the invasion of Luzon in the Philippines at Lingayen Beach. This was the landing accompanying the return of General Douglas MacArthur. Mehl fought in the Battle of San Manuel, Santa Fé, San José and Manila and later served in the Army of Occupation in the Philippines. He received a Presidential Unit Citation and the Bronze Star.
