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WESTPORT Wash. – Serving during
World War II is a remarkable
achievement. Receiving an award
for service 68 years later is
another.
For Martin L. Paulson, a WWII
veteran, who fought in the
assault and capture of Okinawa,
Japan, in 1945, serving in some
of the most dangerous areas in
WWII and years later, receiving
an award for his service in an
experience he'll never forget.
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Col. Lynda Granfield, civil
affairs officer, I Corps,
presents Martin L. Paulson,
World War II veteran, with an
Army Bronze Star Medal during an
award Ceremony on August 30,
2013 at the Westport, Wash.,
chapter of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars. The award was
presented to Paulson for his
actions while assigned to 105th
Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry
Division, in support of the
assault and capture of Okinawa,
Japan on April 13, 1945. (Photo
by Staff Sgt. Miriam
Espinoza-Torres, 5th Mobile
Public Affairs Detachment)
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Martin L. Paulson served in the
U.S. Army from 1943-1946 with D
Company, 105th Infantry
Regiment, 27th Infantry
Division. In 1945 he boarded the
USS Cecil and headed to Okinawa,
Japan.
While in Okinawa he wrote over
90 letters to his sister, Ruth
Paulson, telling her about his
everyday life while deployed.
When Martin's sister died, she
gave his letters to her son's
wife, Gail L. Furford so she
could give them to her grandson
when he was old enough to
understand their meaning. After
nearly 20 years of moving
around, Furford came across the
letters which she had saved in a
small shoebox. She began reading
them and to her surprise, they
told an amazing story of a young
Paulson fighting for his country
during World War II and also
discovered information she
believed entitled him to a
Purple Heart.
In one letter, Martin mentioned
being hurt in an accident. He
didn't elaborate on his injuries
because he didn't want to worry
his family. Subsequently, Martin
went back to Fort Lewis, Wash.,
to receive care for his injuries
at the Madigan Army Medical
Center.
She sent supporting
documentation about the battle
and the letter to the Department
of Defense believing Paulson
deserved a Purple Heart. Instead
the department awarded him with
the Bronze Star Medal for his
heroic actions during the
battle.
Sixty-eight years later, Paulson
received the Bronze Start Medal
in August at the Westport
Washington Chapter of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars. He
received his award in front of
family and friends.
Furford wanted to present the
award to Paulson herself, but
felt it was more appropriate for
an Army officer to present it.
She reached out to Joint Base
Lewis-McChord, Wash., for
assistance. I Corps responded by
providing a colonel and a color
guard for the ceremony.
Col. Lynda Granfield, civil
affairs officer, I Corps, had
the honor of presenting Paulson
with the Bronze Star Medal and
the Foreign Occupation Medal for
his service during WWII.
“Whether you wear the uniform
today or wore it decades ago,
you remind us of a fundamental
truth,” Granfield said, quoting
President Barack Obama. “It's
not the powerful weapons that
make our military the strongest
in the world, it's not the
sophisticated systems that makes
us the most advanced, the true
strength of our military lies in
the spirits and skill of all our
men and women and those who've
served before us.”
Paulson, now 95 years old, was
grateful for the award. “I'm
very humbled; I figure a lot of
the other guys I served with
deserve one too.” He fondly
recalls his time in service and
says he keeps the soldiers,
currently fighting in the Middle
East, in his thoughts.
Paulson's story inspired Furford
to write a book about his
experience during the assault
and capture of Okinawa, Japan.
She is currently working on the
final chapter with the hope it
will be published at the end of
the year.
By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Miriam Espinoza-Torres
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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