Paul joined the Marines at the very young age of 17 years
old. No doubt the fact that his brother was already a Marine had something to
do with his joining! This was on August 9, 1946.
According to the Veterans administration, WWII was not over
until the last day of December 1946. One of the reasons was that many
servicemen and women, who had been overseas for years, were now coming home. However
there was still work to do, one of which was that the United States had
obligations among countries that had been at war with the Allies, now needed occupation
forces to help those countries once at war, to rebuild in the postwar era.
Paul was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 11th
Artillery of the famous 1st Marine Division. His job was of being a
spotter for a 105 mm howitzer.
He participated in the occupation of an area once taken over
by the Japanese during the war, and was still reeling from the effects of the
brutal actions of the Imperial Japanese Army. His destination included the
Tientsin-Peiping (later Peking.) Paul also was stationed on the island of Guam.
Paul writes that he entered the Marines as a kid, survived
Paris Island boot camp, and matured into a proud Marine to serve his country.
The Marines he served with taught him to be “the best I could be,” and that he
will always be grateful for his Marine experience.
His awards included the WWII Victory medal, Presidential Testimonial
1947, Good Conduct and the China Service medal.
Possibly with a heavy heart, Paul left the Marines on April
8, 1948.
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