World War II Honoree

Paul L. Erlewein

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Paterson, New Jersey

Honored By

Robert Michael Rumsby

Relationship

Great Great Nephew

HE ENTERED THE SERVICE ON APRIL 3, 1941, AT NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. HE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE INFANTRY PARACHUTE SCHOOL IN 1942. DEPARTED THE U.S. ON DECEMBER 28, 1943 AND ARRIVED AT THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ON JANUARY 8, 1944. HE SERVED AS A COMMUNICATIONS CHIEF WITH THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION, 508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 2ND BATTALION, D COMPANY FROM 1942 TO 1945. HE SERVED IN FOUR CAMPAIGNS WHICH INCLUDED NORMANDY, CENTRAL EUROPE, THE ARDENNES AND RHINELAND. HE MADE TWO COMBAT JUMPS WHICH INCLUDED, OPERATION NEPTUNE ON JUNE 6, 1944 AND OPERATION MARKET GARDEN ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1944. HE ALSO SERVED IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. AFTER THE WAR IN EUROPE, HE SERVED IN THE OCCUPATION OF GERMANY. DEPARTED THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1945 AND ARRIVED BACK TO THE U.S. ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1945. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 1945 AT FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT. HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ARROWHEAD AND 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, PARACHUTE BADGE WITH 2 JUMP STARS, MARKSMAN BADGE WITH RIFLE BAR, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, FRENCH FOURRAGERE, BELGIAN FOURRAGERE, AND THE NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD.