Hewerl “Chic” Cordell, age 95, passed away on January 14, 2016.  Chic was born in rural Kentucky on February 5, 1920.  His mother, Ama, raised 4 sons almost single-handedly.  His golf career started early, and he got big tips from golfers when he managed to surreptitiously improve their lie in the rough, using his bare toes to move the ball.  Years later, he won the all-armed-services golf tournament in Stuttgart, Germany.

He enlisted in the army right after high school, in time to serve as a tank commander in North Africa and Italy in WWII.  Over 90% of his battalion was killed in the war.  His service medals include:  silver star, bronze star, purple heart, army commendation medal with oak leaf cluster, European-African-Middle Eastern campaign medal with quadruple bronze star attachment, and many others.  He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre (the equivalent of the U.S. Medal of Honor) for bravery in facing enemy fire to rescue a unit of French soldiers.  Though he did not talk a lot about the war, he did like to relate some of the more light-hearted moments.  He hated 4^th of July fireworks for the rest of his life.  He remained in the army after the war to serve in Korea, Turkey, Fort Ord, and other places.

After the war he married Frieda, who brought two step-sons to the marriage, which Chic raised as his own.  They added a daughter, Chewerl (Hewerl’s name with a ‘C’ added on the front).  Many Richland locals will remember Chewerl as an advocate for the mentally ill.  Chic retired from the army to take a job as personnel manager for W. R. Grace in their Cincinnati, Ohio, chemical plant.  After his wife Frieda died, Chic moved to Richland in 1997 to be close to his daughter, Chewerl. 

Chic was preceded in death by his wife Frieda, his daughter Chewerl Radican, three brothers (Boyd Cordell, Houston Cordell, and Gene Ridner), two step-sons (Jack Massey and Wayne Selby), and his life-long army buddy, Arnold Tucker.  He is survived by his son-in-law, Dan Herting (Richland), granddaughter Ila McKenzie (Kennewick), grandson James Herting (Kennewick), and a host of relatives from Kentucky, Ohio, Florida, and other parts of the U.S.  A public viewing for Chic will be held at Einan’s Funeral Home/Event Center, 915 Bypass Highway, Richland, from 10:00 am until noon on Saturday, January 23.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chic’s favorite charity, Disabled American Veterans.