Service Photo |
Service Details |
|
|
|
|
Last Photo |
Personal Details
|
|
|
Home State
Arkansas | |
|
Year of Birth 1914 |
|
This Military Service Page was created/owned by
MAJ Mark E Cooper
to remember
Cooper, Paul Ray, MSgt USAF(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
|
|
Contact Info
|
Home Town Russellville |
Last Address Little Rock, AR
|
Date of Passing Nov 12, 1971 |
|
Location of Interment Little Rock National Cemetery (VA) - Little Rock, Arkansas |
Wall/Plot Coordinates Section 5, Site 7438B |
|
|
Last Known Activity:
Counselor - Arkansas Employment Security Office, Little Rock, AR
|
|
Other Comments:
Arkansas Employment Security Division |
|
Other Comments:
Awarded French Croix d'Guerre, Belgian Croix d'Guerre, Netherlands Resistance Cross (Verzetsherdenkingskruis) in WWII.
All my father wanted to do was play the trumpet and lead the band. He enlisted in 1934 because he could no longer afford college and was sent to the 4th Infantry Regiment Band at Fort George Wright in Spokane Washington. His enlistment ended in 1938 and he returned home to Arkansas. His National Guard unit was called to active service in 1939 and sent to Alaska. He left Alaska in 1943 and was sent to the 7th Armored Division Band. When the 7th Armored Division was sent into France in 1944, the band was made into a weapons platoon and my father was made the Platoon Sergeant. He made the statement to me once that, "The US Army did not train me to be an infantryman.... The German 1st SS Panzer Army taught me the hard way." Sadly enough, he was wounded badly enough in the Battle of the Bulge that he could never play the trumpet again (severe diaphragm wound). After serving in the Austrian Command from 1946 to 1949, my Dad got out and became a History teacher and Assistant Principal at North Little Rock High School. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1951 as a historian to avoid Infantry service in Korea. He told my mother that he dreamed that he was killed in Korea, which led to his enlistment. He was soon stationed at Sonderstrom, Greenland where was a historian for the 8th Air Force. He held the first radio quiz program north of the Arctic Circle for the servicemen stationed there, which I have tapes of. He retired on Dec 31, 1962, shortly before my 6th Birthday. He had 24 years of active service, 2 years in the ARNG and 2 years in the USAR.
7th Armored Division, US Army
CITED IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY of the Belgian Army, in Decree No. 7253, 13 July 1950, by Charles, Prince of Belgium, Regent of the Kingdom, with the following citation:
During the crucial period of the German offensive of the Ardennes, in 1944, the American 7th Armored Division, attacked by enemy forces estimated at eight divisions, among them 3 SS Panzer and 2 Panzer Divisions, held the important center of Saint Vith, preventing any advance and any exploitation on this main line, thus dooming the German offensive to frustration and, by its sacrifice, permitting the launching of the Allied counteroffensive.
CITED IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY of the Belgian Army, in Decree No. 7253, 13 July 1950, by Charles, Prince of Belgium, Regent of the Kingdom, with the following citation:
Passing over to the attack on 20 January in the Saint Vith sector where it had fought previously, the 7th Armored Division pushed the enemy out of the position that it had been organizing for two weeks, and pushed it without respite seven kilometers beyond the Belgian frontier, inflicting heavy losses on this enemy. During these nine days it captured more than one thousand prisoners.
BELGIAN FOURRAGERE (1940), awarded by Decree No. 7253, 13 July 1950, by Charles, Prince of Belgium, Regent of the Kingdom.
Mary Diemer Cooper
widow of Paul R. Cooper, passed away on 24 May 2010 in Edmond, OK. She was a 1944 graduate of Little Rock High School, attended Little Rock Junior College, and was a 1946 Graduate of Arkansas State Teacher's College. She also did graduate study at the University of Arkansas and the University of Alabama.
Mrs. Cooper was a past President of the Arkansas Authors and Composers Society and was a former member of the Poet's Round-table. She had held positions as a Teacher and Principal in Europe and in several states as she travelled with her husband during his military service. Her first position after college was Principal of Salzburg American High School (Austria) in 1946. She was 19 years old. She was also the Principal and Superintendent of the Arkansas Girl's Training School in Alexander.
Mrs. Cooper began public speaking at the age of 4. Coincidently, she was buried 100 feet from the pavilion in the Little Rock National Cemetery where she read a selection of poetry during the 1937 Memorial Day services. She was 10 years old at the time. At the age of 14, she joined the Civil Air Patrol during WWII.
A member of First Christian Church in Little Rock, she was honored to serve as the teacher of the 78 year-old Whatsoever Class. Mrs. Cooper was a part-time author having articles published in several Christian publications and was the author of "Open House", a book of poetry.
She is survived by her son, MAJ (Ret) Mark Cooper of Fayetteville NC and his wife Joy, daughter Paula Cooper Miller of Edmond, OK and husband Ken Miller,6 grand-children, (soon to be) 7 great grand-children, 4 nieces, and 1 nephew.
A funeral service will be held on 28 May 2010 at 12:30 at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home in Little Rock. A burial service will follow at the Little Rock National Cemetery at 2 PM. Visitation will be Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 at the funeral home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1934-1937, US Army (USA)
|
|
1939-1945, US Army (USA)
|
|
1946-1949, US Army (USA)
|
|
1952-1954, AAF MOS 274, Thule Air Base
|
|
1954-1957, AAF MOS 274, Headquarters, 8th Air Force
|
|
1958-1961, 99500, USAF Recruiting Service
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reflections on MSgt Cooper's
US Air Force Service
|
|
|
TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE?
My Dad passed away in 1971, so I will answer these as I thought he would.
Came in the Army in 1934, during the Depression, when college money ran out. Just wanted to play the trumpet and coronet.
|
TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH HE/SHE TOOK IN HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE. WHERE DID THEY GO FOR BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE THEY ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS HIS/HER REASON FOR LEAVING?
Enlisted in 1934, 4th Infantry Division Band. Got out in 1937 and joined the National Guard. Called to active service in 1939 and stayed until 1945, fighting with the 7th Armored Division Band. (Yes, they made us Infantrymen). Got out in 1945 to finish college, married and wife wanted to go to Europe, so I re-enlisted in 46. Got out in 1949 and became a history teacher and Asst Principal. Re-called in 1951 to go to Korea, so I joined the USAF and became an AF Historian. Retired in 1962.
|
IF HE/SHE PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE YOU FEEL WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO HIM/HER AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
In summer 1944, the 7th AD Band was made into an Infantry Plt and I was made the Plt Sgt. We fought in the Battle of the Bulge and continued to fight until we crossed the Elbe River and met the Russians. The US Army did not train me to be an Infantryman; the 1st SS Panzer Division did.
|
OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES HE/SHE RECEIVED, WHICH WERE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO HIM/HER AND WHY?
The Combat Infantryman's Badge. A USAF LtCol told me not to wear it in 1961. I told him that when he thought he could take it off my uniform to go ahead and try.
|
IF KNOWN, PLEASE LIST ANY INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM HIS/HER TIME IN THE MILITARY WHO STOOD OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEM AND WHY?
Another one that I will decline to answer for my Dad, although I know that he had great respect for MG Hasbrouck, the 7th AD CG (and hated Patton)
|
ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
We were standing on a runway at Dutch Harbor, Alaska in 1942 when torpedo bombers were returning from a mission against the Japanese. One of the torpedoes had failed to release and as the plane began to land, it came loose and bounced down the runway. You have never seen so many people run so fast, including me.
|
IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
My father taught High School History for a few years after retirement and then became a HS Principal. In 1967 he took a job with the Arkansas State Employment Security Division and was promoted to a section chief of some kind in 1970. He passed away of a heart attack in 1971 at the age of 57.
|
IF KNOWN, WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS WAS HE OR SHE A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC BENEFITS THEY DERIVED FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIPS?
My Father was a member of the American Legion.
|
IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU BELIEVE HIS/HER SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY THEY APPROACHED THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, FAMILY LIFE AND CAREER?
Being a First Sergeant, he ran his only son (me) like a trainee. I was told one time to get out of bed in the morning. The second time I hit the floor and the mattress landed on me!
|
IF THEY WERE HERE TODAY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU THINK HE OR SHE WOULD GIVE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND RECENTLY ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE?
Another one that I hate to answer for my Dad, but be strongly believed that military service was honorable and a good career choice.
|
|