The Wisdom of 94 y.o. vet. who was wounded twice in Europe in WW 11
Message to a younger generations:
Interview for Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress
Paul L. Baughman, Sr. Paul is on the far right of the
photograph with a helmet on.
photograph with a helmet on.
It was our pleasure to meet you today at the Veterans Victory House in Walterboro.
These vets. of 101 Airborne are on the verge of parachuting into Normandy on D-day
General Eisenhower was so impressed when speaking with Paul, that he offered him a "field commission" then and there. However, Paul refused the honor being satisfied with his sergeant (non-commissioned officer status). After a few weeks of courageously leading his men against the Nazis, he was hit by a sniper in the St. Lo battle. Afterwards he was evacuated and hospitalized back in England.
It was our pleasure to meet you today at the Veterans Victory House in Walterboro.
These vets. of 101 Airborne are on the verge of parachuting into Normandy on D-day
Considered "recuperated" Paul was sent back to Europe with 29th Infantry to help protect Patton's tanks. They had to guard the tanks while waiting for fuel and then follow them into action. Paul said Patton had his tanks going so fast that they ran to try to keep up. Then, later, he was crawling into a position, leading his men from ahead. when he tripped a mine. This injury was so serious that it ended his combat days. The war was almost over, so he was flown back to hospital in the States near Ft. Dix, where he was able to re-unite with his fiancé. Of course, Paul got the Purple Heart along with the Bronze Star and several other medals. He is a true hero, Thank you Sir for your service.
Afterwards, he had a nice stable career as a "Tool and Die Maker" which enabled him to live well while using his GI Bill to go back to school in engineering. Paul became a mechanical, design and manufacturing engineer. He married his fiancé and they had children providing for them well.
The last question in interview asks "What do you want future generations to know?"
His wise answer:
PRIORITIZE,
DO THE BEST YOU CAN
STAY OUT OF CONFLICTS
Ron Alexander You do know that Germany attacked us first, the same as their allies Japan at Pearl Harbor. Uboots sank 272 boats off our shores in 1941 BEFORE THEY DECLARED WAR AGAINST US. Yes, I am pro-peace but WW!1 was a just war! And our men like Paul above were gallantly fightiing the Nazis just as my Father and other soldiers were fighting the IMPERIAL JAPANESE FORCES! REMEMBER THE HOLOCAUST AND PEARL HARBOR!
Carrie Hanks: Be wise, prioritize, stay out of conflicts. The wars of today that my children, grandsons, nieces. Nephews, greats and grands are fighting is not the wars fought by my brothers and Uncles, or even my husband in Vietnam. I believe that today's wars are fought for profit, not the democracy they would have us believe,
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