Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
KIRKLAND, Paul Harold - Date of
birth
17 April 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Miami, Ottawa County, Oklahoma -
Hometown
Bexar County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38556466 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
Ammunition Bearer -
Unit
H Company,
3rd Battalion,
331st Infantry Regiment,
83rd Infantry Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 April 1945 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Westerhausen-Neundorf-Harzleben, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| I | 12 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Marcus K. Kirkland (father)
Julia E. (Williams) Kirkland (mother)
John O. Kirkland (brother)
William I. Kirkland (brother)
Iva L. Kirkland (sister)
Faber Kirkland (brother)
Nettie Kirland (sister)
Austin M. Kirkland (brother)
Naomi Kirkland (sister)
Goldie Kirkland (sister)
Olson Kirkland (brother)
Harland Kirkland (brother)
More information
Pfc Paul H. Kirkland enlisted at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on 11 September 1943.He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. The citation cited: "When the heavy machine gun platoon was halted in its advance on Gey, Germany, by the fire of two enemy snipers in some buildings, Pvt Kirkland and two comrades worked their way forward to where they could bring fire on the enemy. The snipers were called upon to surrender. They answered with a burst of fire which killed on of the companions and wounded the other. Pvt Kirkland killed one of the snipers and, although wounded, forced the other to expose himself to the first of the American platoon. His courage and heroic devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself, and his actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States."
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.wwiimemorial.com, http://83rdinfdivdocs.org, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Family Trees / WWII Draft Cards / 1910/1920 US Census, The Colton Courier - 13 April 1945
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Des Philippet, Kirkland Family - courtesy of Debbie Holloman