Paul Winford Cunningham

*No plaque located*

*The List of Liberty Row Names indicates the possible original location of the plaque*

*This soldier's brother, Lawrence Cunningham, also served in WWI and was honorably discharged on 4/9/1919.

Birth: 10/24/1893, Cleveland, Ohio

Address: 820 E. 154th St., Cleveland, OH

Demographics: age 23 at draft registration; single; Caucasian; native-born Clevelander; occupation Machinist at Cleveland Metal Products Co., Cleveland, OH (later known as The Perfection Stove Company, it specialized in lamps and heaters)

Appearance: Height short, build medium, Eyes blue, Hair dark

Draft Date/Enlistment Date/Rank: 6/5/1917; 5/18 or 28/18; Private and Mechanic  

Service Number: 3488859

Deployment: 7/22/1918 from Brooklyn, NY aboard HMHS Nevasa

Action: 29 Co 3 Inf Repl Regt Cp Gordon Ga May 28/18 to Aug 21/18; Co 1 9 Inf to Sept 12/18. Pvt May 28/18; Mec July 15/18. St Mihiel; Defensive Sector. AEF July 22/18 to Sept 12/18. 

Death: September 12, 1918 at age 24; cause of death Killed in Action

Burial: buried locally in France; later reburied twice at St. Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, Lorraine, France, with final burial there in Plot D Row 13 Grave 10

Next of Kin: Mrs. O. E. Cunningham, mother, 820 E. 154th St., Cleveland, OH 

Additional Information: World War I mechanics played a vital role in maintaining and repairing aircraft, balloons, and other military vehicles.

Father: Owen Eugene Cunningham (1863-1930), born County Meath, Ireland, emigrated ~1868, occupation Florist at a Greenhouse, buried Knollwood Cemetery, 1678 SOM Ctr Rd., Mayfield Heights, OH; Mother: Maria (aka Mary) Carolina Krueger Cunningham (1864-1942), born Germany, emigrated ~1865, had 5 children of whom 5 survived, buried Knollwood Cemetery, Cleveland, OH (address above); Siblings: Lawrence Cunningham (1892-1969); Harry Elmer Cunningham (1896-1965) who had a son named Paul, presumably named after his deceased older brother; Carol Cunningham; Jasmine Fern Cunningham Wilder (1902-1982).

On 5/6/1931, Private Cunningham's mother sailed to Europe aboard SS George Washington as part of the U.S. WWI Gold Star Mothers and Widows Pilgrimage to visit the grave of her son.