Paul Wilkins Kendall

Paul Wilkins Kendall
Paul W. Kendall
Born	July 17, 1898 Baldwin City, Kansas
Died	October 3, 1983 (aged 85) Palo Alto, California
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1918–1955
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	88th Infantry Division 2nd Infantry Division VI Corps I Corps Allied Land Forces Southeastern Europe
Battles/wars	Siberian Campaign World War II Korean War
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit Bronze Star (2)

Paul Wilkins Kendall (July 17, 1898 - October 3, 1983) was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army, who served during World War I, World War II and Korean War.

Early life

Kendall was born on July 17, 1898 in Baldwin City, Kansas and raised in Sheridan, Wyoming. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1918, receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry.

Siberian Campaign

Kendall attended the Infantry School of Arms at Fort Benning, Georgia from late 1918 to early 1919.

After completing his training he was assigned to the 27th Infantry Regiment during the Siberian Camaign. Kendall participated in an action on January 10, 1920, for which he received the Distinguished Service Cross.

Post-Siberian Campaign

Kendall carried out a variety of assignments in the 1920s and '30s, including a posting to Fort Logan, Colorado with the 38th Infantry Regiment in 1923 and instructor assignments at the United States Military Academy and Northwestern Military and Naval Academy. Kendall also performed duty in China, Hawaii and the Philippines.

In 1936 Kendall graduated from the Command & General Staff College. In the early 1940s he served in a staff assignment at the Office of the Chief of Staff in Washington, D.C.

World War II

At the start of World War II Kendall was assigned as Chief of Staff of the 85th Infantry Division. He then served as Assistant Division Commander of the 84th Infantry Division, receiving promotion to Brigadier General.

From September 1944 to July 1945 Kendall was commander of the "Blue Devils" of the 88th Infantry Division, receiving promotion to Major General. The division’s second World War II commander, he led it during its assault through Italy, including the capture of Vicenza and Verona.

During the war Kendall received the Silver Star for heroism on three occasions, two in 1944 and one in 1945.^[1][2]

Post World War II

From June 1946 to May 1948 Kendall was commander of the 2nd Infantry Division. He then served as commander of VI Corps at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

Korean War

In June 1952 Kendall became commander of I Corps, receiving promotion to Lieutenant General. He led the Corps as it manned a defensive line until the end of 1952. In January 1953 the corps took part in an offensive, with troops of the 1st Republic of Korea (ROK) Division attacking the enemy at Big Nori. Beginning in March, the North Koreans and Chinese continually attacked I Corps positions, and I Corps began a phased withdrawal that resulted in numerous enemy casualties. Kendall turned command of I Corps over to Bruce C. Clarke in April 1953.

Post-Korean War

After leaving I Corps Kendall was assigned as Deputy Commanding General, US Army Forces Far East in Manila, Philippines.

In 1954 Kendall was assigned as commander of Allied Land Forces Southeastern Europe in Izmir, Turkey, where he served until his 1955 retirement.

Personal

General Kendall was married to Ruth Child Pistole (November 10, 1900 – January 29, 1985). They had two daughters, Jean and Elizabeth. Jean was the wife of Navy Officer Neal D. Baumgardner and Elizabeth was the wife of Army officer Raymond O. Miller.

Retirement and Death

Kendall retired to Palo Alto, California, where he died on October 3, 1983.

Citation for Distinguished Service Cross

The official U.S. Army citation for Kendall's Distinguished Service Cross reads:

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 35 (1920)

Action Date: January 10, 1920

Name: Paul Wilkins Kendall

Service: Army

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Regiment: 27th Infantry

Division: American Expeditionary Forces (Siberia)

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Paul W. Kendall, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving with 27th Infantry, 33d Division, A.E.F. (Siberia), in action at Posolskaya, Siberia, 10 January 1920. Lieutenant Kendall was in command of a detachment of his company when attacked by an armored train at 1 a.m. The detachment under his leadership and inspired by his example attacked and disabled the armored train and caused its surrender.^[3]

Ribbon bar

Here is his ribbon bar:

1st Row	Distinguished Service Cross						Army Distinguished Service Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster
2nd Row	Silver Star w/ two Oak Leaf Clusters				Legion of Merit				Bronze Star Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster				Purple Heart
3rd Row	World War I Victory Medal w/ Siberia Clasp				Army of Occupation of Germany Medal				American Defense Service Medal				American Campaign Medal
4th Row	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/ one silver and two bronze service stars				World War II Victory Medal				Army of Occupation Medal				National Defense Service Medal
5th Row	Korean Service Medal				Commander of the Order of the Bath (United Kingdom)				Officer of the Legion of Honour (France)				French Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with Palm
6th Row	French Croix de guerre 1939–1945 with Palm				Commander of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy)				Czechoslovak War Cross 1918				United Nations Korea Medal

References

1. U.S. Army Adjutant General, Official Army Register, Volume 1, 1946, page 374
2. Steve Cole, History of the 88th 'Blue Devil' Division, retrieved November 20, 2013
3. "Valor awards for Paul Wilkins Kendall - Hall of Valor". militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-11-19.

External links

• Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S Military Aacdemy, by George Washington Cullum, 1920, Volume VI B, page 2052
• Russian Sideshow: America's Undeclared War, 1918–1920, by Robert L. Willett, 2003
• U.S. Army Recruiting News, published by the U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1923
• Annual Report of the Superintendent, United States Military Academy, 1925, page 27
• Official Army List and Directory, published by the U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1931
• Official Army List and Directory, published by the U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1941
• Draftee Division: the 88th Infantry Division in World War II, by John Sloan Brown, 1986
• Blue Devils, the 88th Infantry Division and Mt. Mestas Research Web Site
• Combat Chronicle, 2nd Infantry Division, United States Army Center of Military History
• The Korean War: a Historical Dictionary, by Paul M. Edwards, 2003 page 297
• Newspaper article, Gen. Kendall Sent to Frankfort, New York Times, March 9, 1948
• Official Army List and Directory, published by the U.S. Army Adjutant General, Volume 1, 1949
• Newspaper article, Gen. Kendall Takes Over 1st Corps in Korea, Chicago Tribune, June 30, 1952
• Official Army List and Directory, published by the U.S. Army Adjutant General, Volume 1, 1954
• Newspaper article, Kendall Commands, Hartford Courant, January 9, 1954
• Newspaper article, Gen. Kendall Promoted, Hartford Courant, September 19, 1952
• Newspaper article, Allied Land Forces Commander Named, Modesto Bee, July 5, 1955
• Military News in San Francisco Daily Newspapers, by Robert Walter Gibson, 1956, page 28
• Register of graduates and former cadets of the United States Military Academy, published by U.S.M.A. Alumni Association, 1971, page 354
• Military Times, Hall of Heroes, Distinguished Service Cross Citation, Paul W. Kendall