Louis Cukela was born on May 1, 1888 in the Dalmatian city of Split (or Sibenik [REF]), Croatia (at the time Kingdom of Dalmatia, Austro-Hungarian Empire) to George and Johana (Bubrich) Cukela.
He was deployed to France in 1918 and fought in all the engagements in which the 5th Marines participated, from Belleau Wood to the Meuse River Crossing [REF].