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Description
Due to this reminding me of my Great Grandfather, I thought I would share his story.

Private First Class Paul was born on November 1st 1923 in Virginia. He grew up on a form with and worked in the coal mines before the war. He sadly lost his father at a young age and only lived with his mother and older brother. Paul was then drafted in 1942 at the age of 19. Even at this age he had already been married and had a daughter. We all say it's a blessing he got drafted at the start of the war as during this time he received better training.

Paul went to basic and then was shipped off to England for Combat Training. He had mentioned that leaving New York and seeing the statue of liberty slowly disappear was the scariest feeling he ever had. While training in England he was assigned to the 95th Infantry Division. He then shipped out to France in August of 1944. During this time he received his first Purple Heart. A German Stick Grenade had gone off and ended up pushing him to a tree. Instead of the shrapnel or force of the grenade killing him, his helmet instead came down and crushed his front teeth. He was taken off the front lines and put in a hospital for a few months before returning to action.

I'm unaware when this had happened but during an engagement with the enemy, PFC Paul had exposed himself to enemy fire while carrying a M1A1 Bazooka. He had then taken out the tracks of a German Panzer Tank. This action was to award him the Silver Star, however things went different. Due to his unit being pushed back by the Germans, they lost the paperwork dot the citation, so Instead they gave him Two Bronze Stars.

This was now most likely around November to Early December of 1944. PFC Paul had been assigned as Squad Leader but was not promoted to Sergeant. He was placed as squad leader due to his experience and to help lead the new replacements who barely had any training. One day a German Machine gun was on the top of a hill. If you ever watched that scene from Saving Private Ryan where they are taking the German Communication outpost this can give you an idea. The only difference is there was snow for my Great Grandfather. As a friendly tank was making its way towards the Hill. Paul had ordered that they would move in groups of Two while the rest gave covering fire. Once they all made it across they would wait for the tank and then move behind it as cover. This was to avoid them all going at once and being cut down by the Machine Gun Fire. As him and his friends from his hometown had run across and began to jump over a fence, the German Machine Gunner opened upon them. Both him and his friend were wounded at the same time. Ironic because they were both drafted at the same time. His friend was shot in the right arm while he was shot in the leg. He was unaware he was hit until he realized he couldn't stand up. Instead of calling for medics, they simply stayed low as it was risky to do so,Paul could have bleed out but the snow had ended up stopping the blessing. As they waited they realized the replacements hadn't made it over due to them panicking most likely. This caused the German Machine Gunner to open upon them and cut down most of the replacements. Paul was then shipped back to a hospital in the states where he spent the rest of the war recovering before being discharged from the Army.

Paul went on to work for a newspaper company for a few years before sadly being let go due to the company going out of business. He then worked as a toy truck driver for kids. He raised 3 kids with his wife and went on to live the rest of his life in peace. Paul sadly had difficulty walking due to his wound in combat. He also had bits of shrapnel come out of his body in his later years. From what my father and my uncle have told me, he didn't really speak about the war unless he was asked. This normally only happened once a year. Out of his entire Squad, only Him and his best friend made it back alive. However Paul was known to be a very kind and respected man over the years. He was known to spoil his family members and always tried to keep a good spirit. Sadly he passed away April 23rd 2001 at the age of 77. Even though I had never met the man. I’m blessed to have heard his story and know that he, like many other brave men had fought for our freedom.

Interesting Stories from the War.

It’s unknown when this has happened but one day when he and a fellow squad mate kept having this French civilian who was most likely around 60 years old trying to get their attention. They ended up finally complying and going to the French mans shed where they found the deceased body of a German soldier hanging. They realized that the man was trying to tell them that he had hung the soldier himself.

One time while on sentry he had been hearing strange sounds in the night coming from a small hill about 50 yards from his post. Paul had then went on the radio and informed his superior of the sound and requested he throw a grenade. The Superior denied the order and simply told him to just keep a lookout. Once again he had heard the sound against and requested that he throw a grenade. The superior told him that when sunrise came and if he still heard the sound, he could throw a grenade over. Once daylight had come and the sound did not cease. Paul and a fellow soldier threw a grenade over the hill. After the grenade had gone off and they both made their way over the hill, they ended up not finding Germans, but instead a bunch of dead chickens.

While on Liberty in England before being shipped to France, Paul and a few fellow guys of his company were out drinking when an Army MP had shown up. Instead of getting caught, they instead snuck out through a back window.

While on the frontlines for the first time, Paul and a fellow squad mate were watching as German POWS who looked no older than 14 were walking by on a road. As Paul had his M1 Garand ready, his fellow squad mate had the 50 cal that was mounted on the Jeep aimed right at the POWs.

One day a Jewish soldier in his company had approached him and told him that if he died, he wanted the watch to go to him. No more than a week later the Jewish soldier ended up being killed, but Paul did not take the watch.

Some point during the war, Paul and a few other soldiers were captured by the Germans for only 23 hours. During this time they were held by gunpoint with fixed bayonets attached and ordered to put water in buckets. However a few hours had past and the Germans ended up engaging in a firefight and simply left him and his squad mates. As they made their way back to friendly lines. When an Officer had stopped them and asked how long they were gone, they told him that they were gone for 23 hours. The Officer chuckled and said if they had been just an hour late they would have been sent back home. He then ordered them to get equipped and go back to the frontlines.

While recovering back in the states in a hospital. Paul went around and asked fellow wounded men if they wanted their Hershey chocolate bars. Instead of eating them for himself, he saved them and gave them all to his daughter after he was sent back home.

That’s about all that I can remember but I hope you all enjoyed this story. Have a blessed day.

Description
Due to this reminding me of my Great Grandfather, I thought I would share his story.

Private First Class Paul was born on November 1st 1923 in Virginia. He grew up on a form with and worked in the coal mines before the war. He sadly lost his father at a young age and only lived with his mother and older brother. Paul was then drafted in 1942 at the age of 19. Even at this age he had already been married and had a daughter. We all say it's a blessing he got drafted at the start of the war as during this time he received better training.

Paul went to basic and then was shipped off to England for Combat Training. He had mentioned that leaving New York and seeing the statue of liberty slowly disappear was the scariest feeling he ever had. While training in England he was assigned to the 95th Infantry Division. He then shipped out to France in August of 1944. During this time he received his first Purple Heart. A German Stick Grenade had gone off and ended up pushing him to a tree. Instead of the shrapnel or force of the grenade killing him, his helmet instead came down and crushed his front teeth. He was taken off the front lines and put in a hospital for a few months before returning to action.

I'm unaware when this had happened but during an engagement with the enemy, PFC Paul had exposed himself to enemy fire while carrying a M1A1 Bazooka. He had then taken out the tracks of a German Panzer Tank. This action was to award him the Silver Star, however things went different. Due to his unit being pushed back by the Germans, they lost the paperwork dot the citation, so Instead they gave him Two Bronze Stars.

This was now most likely around November to Early December of 1944. PFC Paul had been assigned as Squad Leader but was not promoted to Sergeant. He was placed as squad leader due to his experience and to help lead the new replacements who barely had any training. One day a German Machine gun was on the top of a hill. If you ever watched that scene from Saving Private Ryan where they are taking the German Communication outpost this can give you an idea. The only difference is there was snow for my Great Grandfather. As a friendly tank was making its way towards the Hill. Paul had ordered that they would move in groups of Two while the rest gave covering fire. Once they all made it across they would wait for the tank and then move behind it as cover. This was to avoid them all going at once and being cut down by the Machine Gun Fire. As him and his friends from his hometown had run across and began to jump over a fence, the German Machine Gunner opened upon them. Both him and his friend were wounded at the same time. Ironic because they were both drafted at the same time. His friend was shot in the right arm while he was shot in the leg. He was unaware he was hit until he realized he couldn't stand up. Instead of calling for medics, they simply stayed low as it was risky to do so,Paul could have bleed out but the snow had ended up stopping the blessing. As they waited they realized the replacements hadn't made it over due to them panicking most likely. This caused the German Machine Gunner to open upon them and cut down most of the replacements. Paul was then shipped back to a hospital in the states where he spent the rest of the war recovering before being discharged from the Army.

Paul went on to work for a newspaper company for a few years before sadly being let go due to the company going out of business. He then worked as a toy truck driver for kids. He raised 3 kids with his wife and went on to live the rest of his life in peace. Paul sadly had difficulty walking due to his wound in combat. He also had bits of shrapnel come out of his body in his later years. From what my father and my uncle have told me, he didn't really speak about the war unless he was asked. This normally only happened once a year. Out of his entire Squad, only Him and his best friend made it back alive. However Paul was known to be a very kind and respected man over the years. He was known to spoil his family members and always tried to keep a good spirit. Sadly he passed away April 23rd 2001 at the age of 77. Even though I had never met the man. I’m blessed to have heard his story and know that he, like many other brave men had fought for our freedom.

Interesting Stories from the War.

It’s unknown when this has happened but one day when he and a fellow squad mate kept having this French civilian who was most likely around 60 years old trying to get their attention. They ended up finally complying and going to the French mans shed where they found the deceased body of a German soldier hanging. They realized that the man was trying to tell them that he had hung the soldier himself.

One time while on sentry he had been hearing strange sounds in the night coming from a small hill about 50 yards from his post. Paul had then went on the radio and informed his superior of the sound and requested he throw a grenade. The Superior denied the order and simply told him to just keep a lookout. Once again he had heard the sound against and requested that he throw a grenade. The superior told him that when sunrise came and if he still heard the sound, he could throw a grenade over. Once daylight had come and the sound did not cease. Paul and a fellow soldier threw a grenade over the hill. After the grenade had gone off and they both made their way over the hill, they ended up not finding Germans, but instead a bunch of dead chickens.

While on Liberty in England before being shipped to France, Paul and a few fellow guys of his company were out drinking when an Army MP had shown up. Instead of getting caught, they instead snuck out through a back window.

While on the frontlines for the first time, Paul and a fellow squad mate were watching as German POWS who looked no older than 14 were walking by on a road. As Paul had his M1 Garand ready, his fellow squad mate had the 50 cal that was mounted on the Jeep aimed right at the POWs.

One day a Jewish soldier in his company had approached him and told him that if he died, he wanted the watch to go to him. No more than a week later the Jewish soldier ended up being killed, but Paul did not take the watch.

Some point during the war, Paul and a few other soldiers were captured by the Germans for only 23 hours. During this time they were held by gunpoint with fixed bayonets attached and ordered to put water in buckets. However a few hours had past and the Germans ended up engaging in a firefight and simply left him and his squad mates. As they made their way back to friendly lines. When an Officer had stopped them and asked how long they were gone, they told him that they were gone for 23 hours. The Officer chuckled and said if they had been just an hour late they would have been sent back home. He then ordered them to get equipped and go back to the frontlines.

While recovering back in the states in a hospital. Paul went around and asked fellow wounded men if they wanted their Hershey chocolate bars. Instead of eating them for himself, he saved them and gave them all to his daughter after he was sent back home.

That’s about all that I can remember but I hope you all enjoyed this story. Have a blessed day.