World War II Honoree

Paul Albert Putnam

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Milan, Michigan

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

He was in command of a detachment of Marine Corps Fighter Squadron 211 (VMF-211) that was sent to Wake Island on December 4, 1941. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces attacked Wake Island. Seven of the VMF-211's twelve aircraft were destroyed. On December 21, the island was attacked by Japanese aircraft and he took off on an unescorted flight in search of the Japanese aircraft carrier from which the attacking planes were based. For this action, he was awarded the Navy Cross. On December 23 Wake Island was captured by the Japanese and he, along with the other surviving Wake Island defenders, was taken prisoner. He was held in Japanese Prisoner of war camps from December 1941 until September 1945, when he was released at the end of the war. Received Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Prisoner of War Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one service star, American Defense Service Medal with base clasp, WWII Victory Medal, and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with Wake Island clasp.