Willard Stewart Paul

Willard Stewart Paul
Born	February 28, 1894 (1894-02-28) Worcester, Massachusetts
Died	March 21, 1966 (1966-03-22) (aged 72) Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, D.C.
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1916-1948
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	26th Infantry Division, "Yankee Division," "YD"
Battles / wars	World War II, Battle of the Bulge
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit
Other work	President, Gettysburg College

Willard Stewart Paul was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army

Early life

He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on February 28, 1894. He attended Clark University in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and American University in Washington, D.C.

In 1916 Paul joined the Colorado National Guard as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery to serve on the Mexican border during the Pancho Villa Expedition.

World War I

He received a commission in the regular Army in 1917. During World War I he served at Camp Merritt, New Jersey.

Post-World War I

Paul graduated from the Infantry Officers Course in 1921. From 1922 to 1924 he was assistant professor of military science for the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Johns Hopkins University, from which he received a bachelor of science degree in 1924.

Paul was a 1930 graduate of the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and was an instructor at the Infantry School from 1930 to 1933. He graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1935, and the Army War College in 1937.

He was assigned to the staff of the Adjutant General's Department, 1937 to 1941, and in 1942 he received a master of arts degree from American University.

World War II

In 1942 Paul was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, G-4, Headquarters Army Ground Forces (HAGF), receiving promotion to Major General.

In 1943 he was commander of the 75th Infantry Division during its stateside training, and then assumed command of the 26th (Yankee) Infantry Division. General Paul led the 26th Division during the Battle of the Bulge, and played an important role in Third Army's counterattack that reduced the German salient.

Post-World War II

After World War II General Paul remained in Europe as Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, G-1, at Supreme Headquarters Allied Forces in Europe (SHAEF).

In 1947 Paul was promoted to Lieutenant General and returned to the U.S. as the Army's Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G-1, where served until his 1948 retirement. As the Army's top personnel officer, he was responsible for its post-war manpower demobilization.

General Paul's decorations included two awards of the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.

Civilian career

Following his retirement from the military he was a consultant for the American Red Cross, Assistant Director of the Office of Defense Mobilization, and a member of the subcommittee set up by the Hoover Commission to study personnel issues in the U.S. Department of Defense. Paul also served as President of the Retired Officers Association.

In 1956 he became President of Gettysburg College, where he remained until his 1961 retirement. One of his acts as President of the college was to make space available for former President Dwight D. Eisenhower to maintain an office.

Retirement and Death

General Paul died at Walter Reed Army Hospital on March 21, 1966 and was buried in Section 30, Grave 1073 RH of Arlington National Cemetery.

References

• Army List and Directory, U.S. Army Adjutant General's Office, 1919, page 140
• Johns Hopkins Half-Century Directory, 1926, page 275
• Newspaper article, President Names 23 Major Generals, New York Times, March 26, 1943
• Newspaper article, Paul Commands 26th Division, Hartford Courant, August 26, 1943
• Newspaper article, Heads Demobilization: Maj. Gen. W.S. Paul Is Made Assistant Chief of Staff, New York Times, October 27, 1945
• Newspaper article, General Paul to Retire Dec. 31, New York Times, November 10, 1948
• Military Times, Hall of Valor, Index of Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal, http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/02_awards/index_dsm/00_armyDSM-index.html
• Newspaper article, Gen. Paul to Join Red Cross, New York Times, January 16, 1949
• Scope and Content page, Willard S. Paul papers, Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Finding_Aids/PDFs/Paul_Willard_Papers.pdf
• Newspaper article, Hoover Names Group to Study Civil Service, Chicago Tribune, December 23, 1953
• The Hoover Report, 1953-1955: What It Means to You as Citizen and Taxpayer, 1956, page 313
• Gettysburg College web site, List of Presidents page, http://www.gettysburg.edu/about/college_history/president/
• Newspaper article, Officers Ask Pay Raise: Convention Seeks Increase In Retirement Compensation, New York Times, November 29, 1958
• Newspaper article, Willard S. Paul, General, 72, Dies, New York Times, March 22, 1966