Cornelius Redd

Rank: Private, U.S. Army

Unit: 153rd Depot Brigade

Entered service from: New Jersey

Died: October 7, 1918

Buried in Camden County, New Jersey

Private Cornelius Redd was born on September 27, 1896 to Branch and Clara Redd in Green Bay, Virginia. When he registered for the draft on June 5, 1918, he was living at 2009 Mulford Street in Camden, NJ, in the neighborhood between Ferry Avenue and Morgan Boulevard known as Centerville and sometimes referred to as “Sweet Potato Hill.” His parents were living in Mount Ephraim at the time but soon returned to Camden. When the Census was taken in January of 1920, they were living at 1046 Ferry Avenue. His mother, Mrs. Clara Redd, later resided at 1814 Mulford Street and at 785 Chestnut Street.

Cornelius Redd was one of 51 Black citizens drafted on September 26, 1918, and sent to Camp Dix, NJ. The Camden Post-Telegram of that day reported: “To the strains of a colored band, the soldiers were marched in fine order to the Federal Street Terminal where they boarded the 9:22 train.”

Private Redd was initially assigned to the 153rd Depot Brigade. Within a few days of arriving at Camp Dix, he got into trouble and was reassigned to Company 6, Section S, Colored Detention Barracks. While in the Detention Barracks, he contracted Spanish influenza and died on October 7, 1918, after only 12 days of military service.

Cornelius Redd was buried in Camden County, NJ. He was survived by his mother, sister Myrtle, and extended family.