Kendall, Paul Wilkins.

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Kendall, Paul Wilkins, born 17-07-1898 in Baldwin City, Kansas, United States, to Pastor David Ellsworth Kendall (1868-1952) and his wife and Olive Catherine Sullivan Kendall. In 1922 he married Ruth Child, born Pistole Kendall ( 1900-1985). Paul  was raised in Sheridan, Wyoming. In 1916, during World War I (although the American entry into World War I did not occur until April 1917), he obtained an appointment to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, from which he graduated in November 1918, receiving his commission as a second lieutenant into the Infantry Branch of the United States Army. By the time he graduated, the war had come to an end with the signing of the Armistice. He married Elizabeth “Betty” Kendall Miller (1927–2017).

After completing his training, he was assigned to the 27th Infantry Regiment during the Siberian Campaign. Kendall participated in an action on 10-01-1920, for which he received the Distinguished Service Cross. The Siberian intervention or Siberian expedition of 1918–1922 was the dispatch of troops of the Entente powers to the Russian Maritime Provinces as part of a larger effort by the western powers, Japan, and China to support White Russian forces and the Czechoslovak Legion against Soviet Russia and its allies during the Russian Civil War. The Imperial Japanese Army continued to occupy Siberia even after other Allied forces withdrew in 1920.

Kendall carried out a variety of assignments in the 1920s and ’30s, including a posting to Fort Logan, Colorado with the 38th Infantry Regiment   under command of Major General Olinto Mark Barsanti in 1923 and served as an Instructor in the Department of English and History at the United States Military Academy from 1925 to 1930 and later at 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.

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, under command of Major General John Henry Hilldring receiving a promotion to Brigadier General.

From September 1944 to July 1945, Kendall was commander of the “Blue Devils” of the 88th Infantry Division and was promoted 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. The casualities of the 88th Division during there 344 days in European combat: total battle casualties 13.111, killed in action 2.298, wounded in action 9.225, missing in action 941 and prisoner of war 647 and during the war, Kendall received the Silver Star for heroism on three occasions, two in 1944 and one in 1945.

From June 1946 to May 1948, Kendall was commander of the 2nd Infantry Division. In 1951, Kendall was assigned to occupation duty in Austria as commander of the American Zone. Paul was in that position until 1952, then he returned to the United States for a short assignment as commander of VI Corps at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

 Senior commanders meet on board Seventh Fleet flagship off Korean waters. (Left to right): Vice Admiral Joseph J. Clark, USN, Commander, Seventh Fleet; General James Alward Van Fleet, Commanding General, Eighth Army; Lieutenant General Glenn O. Barcus, Commanding General, Fifth Air Force; Lieutenant General Paul W. Kendall, Commanding General, First Army Corps; and Lieutenant General Reuben E. Jenkins, Commanding General, Ninth Army Corps.

In June 1952, Kendall became commander of I Corps, receiving promotion to Lieutenant General. Kendall 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 Cooper Clarke in April 1953. 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.

Death and burial ground of Kendall, Paul Wilkins.

General Paul Kendall was married to Ruth Child Pistole (10-11-1900 – 29-01-1985). 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.

Lieutenant General  Paul Wilkind died 03-10-1983 (age 85) in Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California, USA and is buried at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery West Point, Orange County, New York, VS in Section XXVI Row A Site 3.

Message(s), tips or interesting graves for the webmaster:    robhopmans@outlook.com

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