Willard Stewart Paul

Willard Stewart Paul was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army

Early life
He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on February 28, 1894. He attended Clark University in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and American University in Washington, D.C.

In 1916 Paul joined the Colorado National Guard as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery to serve on the Mexican border during the Pancho Villa Expedition.

World War I
He received a commission in the regular Army in 1917. During World War I he served at Camp Merritt, New Jersey.

Post-World War I
Paul graduated from the Infantry Officers Course in 1921. From 1922 to 1924 he was assistant professor of military science for the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Johns Hopkins University, from which he received a bachelor of science degree in 1924.

Paul was a 1930 graduate of the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and was an instructor at the Infantry School from 1930 to 1933. He graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1935, and the Army War College in 1937.

He was assigned to the staff of the Adjutant General's Department, 1937 to 1941, and in 1942 he received a master of arts degree from American University.

World War II
In 1942 Paul was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, G-4, Headquarters Army Ground Forces (HAGF), receiving promotion to Major General.

In 1943 he was commander of the 75th Infantry Division during its stateside training, and then assumed command of the 26th (Yankee) Infantry Division. General Paul led the 26th Division during the Battle of the Bulge, and played an important role in Third Army's counterattack that reduced the German salient.

Post-World War II
After World War II General Paul remained in Europe as Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, G-1, at Supreme Headquarters Allied Forces in Europe (SHAEF).

In 1947 Paul was promoted to Lieutenant General and returned to the U.S. as the Army's Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G-1, where served until his 1948 retirement. As the Army's top personnel officer, he was responsible for its post-war manpower demobilization.

General Paul's decorations included two awards of the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.

Civilian career
Following his retirement from the military he was a consultant for the American Red Cross, Assistant Dirctor of the Office of Defense Mobilization, and a member of the subcommittee set up by the Hoover Commission to study personnel issues in the U.S. Department of Defense. Paul also served as President of the Retired Officers Association.

In 1956 he became President of Gettysburg College, where he remained until his 1961 retirement. One of his acts as President of the college was to make space available for former President Dwight D. Eisenhower to maintain an office.

Retirement and Death
General Paul died at Walter Reed Army Hospital on March 21, 1966 and was buried in Section 30, Grave 1073 RH of Arlington National Cemetery.