Paul Eugene Smith, Brigadier General, US Army (Retired)

General Smith grew up on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. He volunteered for the US Army as an infantryman in 1942.

He received his infantry basic training at the infantry replacement training camp (IRTC) at Camp Wolters, Texas in 1943. Upon successful completion he was assigned to the IRTC Basic Infantry Training Cadre as a drill instructor. He later went on to graduate from parachute school at Ft. Benning, Georgia “Home of the Infantry” in 1944.

He served with the 101st Airborne Division as a squad leader, platoon sergeant and first sergeant from July 1944 through November 1945.

In December of 1945 he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division as a first sergeant of headquarters company, 504th parachute infantry regiment at Camp Phillip Morris, France. The division travelled to New York on the liner “Queen Mary” for the 82nd Airborne Division’s parade down 5th Avenue on January 12th, 1946 and thereafter returned to Fort Bragg, NC.

Then a Master Sergeant, he re-enlisted in the regular army in January 1946 and served as first sergeant of “E” and “F” company in the 504th before joining “A” company of the 508th parachute infantry regiment in Germany in May of 1946.

He received a direct commission from regular army parachute infantry first sergeant to second lieutenant of the parachute infantry in November 1946.

During the period from November 1946 to July 1949, he served in various assignments in Europe before attending the Officer Basic Course (OBC).

Now an officer, Smith was attached to the 187th Airborne regimental combat team in Korea while a platoon leader and company commander of the parachute aerial delivery company furnishing combat aerial re-supply missions in Korea from August 1950 through May 1953. He was then assigned to the airborne department at Ft. Lee, VA in September 1953 until May of 1957.

Smith served in Germany from June 1958 to June 1961 with the 11th airborne division and the 24th infantry division. He was then selected to attend the command and general staff college in July 1961.

After general staff college, now Major Smith, he served as a liaison officer with the AESW Board (parachute test board) at Ft. Bragg, NC from June 1962 until being re-assigned as the parachute/airborne special projects officer at the Army Material Command in Washington, DC in 1963. He was then assigned to the Army Concept Team in Vietnam, working with parachute, special forces and aviation units in 1965 and 1966.

Between July 1966 and February 1969, Smith served in command, staff and school assignments, including attending the US Army War College and being in the US Joint Strike Command.

Paul Eugene Smith was promoted to Brigadier General in 1970 while acting commander of the 18th Airborne Corps support command at Ft. Bragg, NC.

During the years 1970-1972, he commanded a joint defense logistic agency in Philadelphia, PA. He transferred to Ft. Lee, VA and served as deputy commander and commanding general until being transferred to Washington, DC in 1973 to be Chairman of a department inside the Army Study Group.

His final assignment was as Special Assistant to the Deputy Army Chief of Staff for Logistics in Washington, DC.

He then moved forward with his life by retiring in July of 1974 after 32 years of continuous active duty with the United States Army.

Additional Highlights and Accomplishments:

General Smith has served in every enlisted and commissioned rank from Private to Brigadier General!!

He has earned and was awarded over 30 US and Foreign awards and decorations which include the Combat Infantry Badge; The Netherlands Orange Lanyard; Army Distinguished Service Medal; Army Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medals; Purple Heart; Air Medals; US and Vietnam Master Parachute Wings.

Smith served on parachute jump status for almost 16 years in enlisted and commissioned officer status including WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

He graduated from the University of Omaha, the US Army Command and General Staff College AND the US Army War College.