"A Greek of Davenport in the Casualty Lists for Today" declared the Santa Cruz Surf.

Christ Eustratios Ciges was born in Mythlene Pimpeli, Greece, on February 2, 1889, and remained in that community during his formative years. The date of his departure from Greece is not known, but when he arrived in Santa Cruz County the R.E. Danaher Company employed him as a "Lumber Piler."

When the US entered World War I, Ciges registered for the draft on June 15, 1917. His records at that time described him as being of medium height and build with brown hair and brown eyes. Ciges was a member of the first group of army inductees to be sent from the county in 1918 and following basic training, was assigned to the 109th Infantry Regiment, of the 28th Division.

“On August 6, the date which officially marked the end of the Aisne-Marne operation, the First and Third Corps held a continuous front of 11 km. (6.8 miles) along the Vesle. Between that date and the commencement of the Oise-Aisne operation, August 18, there was but small movement of this line, but there were several changes in the composition of the troops holding it. On August 7, the 28th Division relieved the 32d. . . . Between August 6 and 18 many raids were made and withstood by the Third Corps, chiefly in the vicinity of Fismes and Fismette, in attempts by both belligerents to hold the river. Machine Gun opposition was stubborn and sustained, causing a constant stream of wounded.”

Private Ciges was possibly wounded during one of these engagements and transported to an army hospital near Paris. On August 18, 1918, Christ E. Ciges died from his wounds and was buried in the American Cemetery in Suresnes located between Paris and Versailles.

(CAG; WWIDR; ABMC; SCSf April 12, 1912 6:4, October 28, 1918 3:1; WEP December 28, 1918 5:7; Editors, Med Dept. US Army WWI, pg. 441, http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/ wwi/fieldoperations/chapter13.htm, [16 September 2008]).