US AIRBORNE

Source: "Thunder Mail Call #37" -Editor: Bill K Tom. Thank's Bill for allowing me to resume this article

Paul Allan Wilson was born in Oklahoma City on December 14, 1925, to Golden and Mary Wilson. He was the oldest of seven children. Paul was inducted into the Army in Oklahoma City on January 24, 1944, Pvt. 1st class. He was sent to Ft. Sill (OK) for staging, Ft. McClelland (AL) for infantry school, and Ft. Benning (GA) for jump school after volunteering for that assignment.

"After completing jump school at Fort Benning, GA, I joined the 17th Airborne in Swindon, England, as a paratroop replacement, and became a member of Co. A in the 193rd, taking my one and only, hopefully the last, glider ride, in which approximately 90% of the guys, including me, were throwing up into their helmets."

During December, while Paul’s Division was still stationed in England, the Germans launched their major offensive towards the port of Antwerp. The American troops stationed in the Ardennes were totally surrounded by surprise. Once General Eisenhower learned the news, it was the action-stations. The 17th Airborne, one of the few divisions still held in reserve was sent to the front.

"I can still remember after flying to France, the cold ride on an open truck into Belgium, and going into the front lines around Christmas 1944."

His Company arrived at the front lines around Christmas, 1944, to relieve the 101st Airborne. Paul’s most memorable experience during WWII began January 7th, 1945, when his division began a counter-offensive 10 miles west of Bastogne. The morning of the attack was bitter cold with temperature 8 below zero and a heavy, white fog hanging. There was a light snow and snowfall throughout the night had produced a 6" to 8" blanket on the ground. The Germans had a heavily fortified emplacement of tiger tanks and 88 artillery hidden behind a ridge line with machine-gun crossfire covering the open, snow-covered hill. With no air or tank support, Paul’s division became cannon fodder and their casualties were unimaginable; several battalions, including his, were almost annihilated.

"When the Germans opened up with their weapons, I survived by jumping behind a large dirt mound, the only visible cover on an open snow covered field, behind a two-man mortar team, one of which I was told by Harold Konter of Coraopolis, PA, was Sidney Levit of Morris Plains, NJ. I called Sidney recently, and was so thrilled to hear he had survived the 88-artillery bombardment. I am still, to this day, amazed as to how he survived, but the end of this letter will explain it. Harold Konter informed me that the dirt mound was built by the farmers to store and keep potatoes. One of the men in my platoon said he was hit in the spine as he was crawling past me toward the rear, when he suddenly jumped up and began to run, probably breaking every track record."

Within a short time, orders were given to retreat, but Paul could not.

I was the last one to leave the hill, as a sniper would fire every time I lifted my helmet with my bayonet, until he finally stopped after a few hours. As I was running back, all I could see both right and left of me was the snow covered hillside, splotched with dark gray colored hits by the 88’s, and a large number of dead troopers. Just before I reached the aid station, another buddy and I carried a soldier, who entire body had a yellowish-blotched look that had resulted from shock, to the aid station, where there was a huge stack of dead troopers in a big pile. I then joined 3 or 4 men from, I believe, my platoon, close to the air station, as we listened to the sounds of 88’s, constantly ready to run for cover, to realize that there were very few of us that had survived. In fact, one of the guys suddenly went limp as a result of shock, and had to be carried to the medics. I was certain, after experiencing the above, I had to get away for at least one day to keep from losing it mentally. Another survivor and I caught a jeep ride into Bastogne and slept there overnight before catching a ride in an ambulance back to my Company the next day.

Paul estimates less than a dozen troopers in his platoon survived that day. Paul also remembers the bravery of the medics as they crawled on their bellies under intense 88 and machine gun fire to give aid to their injured and dying buddies. He doesn’t believe any medics from his platoon survived.

After January 16th, Paul’s group began to pursue the retreating Germans.

"After January 16th, we began to pursue the retreating Germans, who were leaving delaying parties to slow our pursuit. I recently read that the units we were chasing were the 9th and 130th German Panzer Divisions and the 26th Infantry Division."

Along the way they encountered several delaying parties that in one instance killed a soldier sitting only inches away from him.

"I was made a lead scout during that time and I still remember a 1st Lieutenant who was sitting close to me, with his upper body exposed, after we were pinned down by a delaying party."

Paul had only seconds before told the 1st lieutenant that he thought his head was above the ground level.

"When the Germans opened fire again, the lieutenant was killed instantly. We ran out of food when the kitchen was unable to keep up with us in our pursuit.

I will never forget eating the tastiest dark bread that was left behind by the retreating Germans, before or since. We captured several prisoners who were taken to the rear and shot, as there was no prisoner of war camp available. We had great respect for the German soldiers who were also drafted into service like we were, but it simply proved that tragedies happened often during wartime in combat. The Germans were also shooting our captured GI’s.

Some time later, our kitchen arrived and we had our first hot meal for it seemed like an eternity."

This is another vivid memory that Paul carries.

Approximately 10 days later, medics had to cut the boots off Paul’s swollen feet . He had a severe case of trench foot, and was evacuated to a hospital in England, between Norwich and Ipswich.

"I was still in the hospital during the time of Operation Varsity."

"At the end of the war, I was placed in 194-HQ3 to greet newer recruits, as there were very few of my original buddies left from 193-A. I served guard duty at Duisburg on the Rhine River, andhad an interesting experience with another trooper in our small guardhouse."

Paul was later transferred to the 13th Airborne in France because the 17th was de-activated September 15th, 1945.

"I played tennis before being drafted and was fortunate to play often with a trooper who had played tennis as a student at Rutgers before army service. I then came back to the U.S. by boat with 3 or 4 blackjack dealers being active most of the time, since we all had our back pay in our pockets with nothing else to do on the ship but gamble most of the time. I was then stationed in Fort Bragg, NC, before being discharged on February 28, 1946 at Ft. Smith, AR."

Upon returning to Oklahoma and resuming his civilian life, Paul became a student at Oklahoma City University, where he majored in music and voice. He also lettered and played for the varsity tennis team. He began playing tennis at age 12 and still plays today. He spent 11 years in the sales industry, and obtained his Real Estate brokers license in 1959. He then began a career in Real Estate, and is still active today as Paul Wilson Company, focusing on commercial real estate and land development. The Lord blessed Paul with a wonderful wife, Greta Kimberling Wilson, whom he credits with teaching him unconditional love and the value of family. They have four children and 12 grandchildren. Their boys grew up active in sports. All three lettered in basketball in high school and one earned a full basketball scholarship to the University of Oklahoma. Paul considers himself fortunate to still be playing competitive tennis at age 79. He has competed in several state tournaments, USTA 5-state Missouri Valley, and the National Senior tennis tournament over the years. He was ranked #1 in 1993 State of Oklahoma 65 -open singles; #1 singles and doubles in 1995 USTA Missouri Valley 70’s ; #1 in 1995 State of Oklahoma 70’s singles. In Dallas, Texas in 2000, he placed 3rd in the USTA National Seniors 75 indoor doubles, and reached the semi-finals in singles. Paul cannot close without giving full credit for his survival during WWII to his Heavenly Father, who chose him before time existed including the fore ordained salvation of his wife, 4 children, and hopefully grandchildren and future great-grandchildren.

Paul hopes this biography will help his children, grandchildren and all future generations remember there was, during WWII, a 17th Airborne Division, known by few Americans as ever having existed. He hopes the 17th Airborne will be remembered, those 6,292 killed or wounded at the Bulge and the daylight jump over the Rhine River, for the tremendous price they paid to preserve the freedom Americans can still enjoy and hopefully appreciate.