New Hampshire WWI Military: Lieutenant Paul E. Corriveau USMC of Concord NH (1893-1918)

Paul E. Corriveau, photograph
from 1920 Memorial Yearbook at UNH

Paul Edouard [Edward] Corriveau was born 2 October 1893 in Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, son of Paul & Sarah (Patoine) Corriveau. Paul had siblings, Eugene Joseph (1889), Joseph, Peter Joseph (1892, m. Katherine Dowd), Albert (m. Alida C. Dufrene), Wilfred A.J. (1899-1919), Aimee Marie, Rose (1902-1976), Alice, Louis (1906-1968) and Evangeline.

Paul E. Corriveau grew up in, and attended schools, including high school in Concord NH. The 1910 United States Census shows him living at 27 Carter Street in Concord NH with his parents and siblings.  [Editor’s Note: On January 9, 2018 alumnae, students and others at Concord Senior High School dedicated a plaque to Vietnam heroes, and also rededicated plaques to other wars including WWI — see Facebook photos.]

The University of Rhode Island campus shuttle
driven by William Potter. The University of Rhode Island Digital Archives.

At the age of 23 Paul completed his WWI Draft Registration form (on May 29, 1917) at South Kingston, Rhode Island.  He was a horticulturist employed by Rhode Island State College.  On this form he described himself as tall, with a medium stature, and having dark brown hair and dark brown eyes.  He also mentioned that he was 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corp Reserves.

The 1920 UNH (then called NH College) Memorial Yearbook, The Granite, on page 184 details the life of  PAUL E. CORRIVEAU Class of 1915.  “Lieut. Paul E. Corriveau ’15 was killed in action in France Oct 6, 1918. Details of his death or the battles in which he took part are lacking. Lieut. Corriveau was born in Concord, N.H. Oct 2, 1893 and on completing his high school education he came to New Hampshire College, where he was graduated in 1915. From here he went to the Graduate School of the University of Missouri, receiving there his degree of M.S. in 1916. In July of that year he took up his duties in the horticultural department at Kingston, R.I., and served there until he entered the United States Marine Corps in May 1917. In College Paul was a star athlete, playing varsity football for three years and being captain his last year. He was also assistant track manager and cheer leader. Upon graduation he was honored by receiving the Chase-Davis Memorial Prize for high attainments in athletics and scholarship. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and the honorable societies of Sigma Xi, Alpha Zeta, and Sigma Kappa Zeta.”

Additional details of his life and death are gleaned from other sources.  The newspaper, The Evening Missourian, Columbia, Missouri of 18 November 1918 states that “he was sent overseas early in the summer of 1918.”   The book, US. Marines, a list of officers and enlisted men, page 15, shows: CORRIVEAU, PAUL F. 1st Lieut. 55th, 5th | Killed in Action October 6, 1918 in the Meuse Argonne | Paul Corriveau (Father) |27 Charter St., Concord, N.H.

Lieut. Paul E. Corriveau was awarded a Silver Star for his heroism.   For more details on the 5th Marines and the battles in which they participated, there is an online history available.    When WWI ended his remains were returned to the United States, where he was reburied with honors in Calvary Cemetery, Concord NH on 21 September 1921.

Paul E. Corriveau is an Honorary member of the Rhode Island Army ROTC Hall of Fame.  The University of Rhode Island, re-dedicated its World War I Memorial Gateway, and honored Paul E. Corriveau on 19 June 2008.  Paul E. Corriveau’s name is inscribed on the Concord NH WWI memorial. See blog post: WWI Memorials in Concord, New Hampshire

[Editor’s Note: this story is part of an on-going series about heroic New Hampshire men and women of World War I.  Look here for the entire listing].