With Memorial Day upon us America is celebrating the memory of U.S. war veterans.  My family will be celebrating the memory of my grandfather, Army veteran and retired police officer - Alfred Joseph Paul. 

by Aurora Provencher
On-Line Editor

Alfred Joseph Paul Fort McKinley 1936

Growing up I had never questioned what my grandparents were before they were grandparents. I remember being in elementary school and interviewing my grandmother about the Depression because I had to - it was an assignment. I never had any real interest in it, which is a shame now because that part of history made her who she was. The same is true for my grandfather. When I was a small child the only thing I knew about my grandfather was how great he was. It never dawned on me that he was more than just my "Pa".

Retirement Day Fort Devens 1963

As I became a teenager I couldn't wait to visit my grandparents on the weekends.  My grandfather would sit on the sun porch where the cool evening breezes would refresh the hot summer air.  My grandfather was simply a grandfather.  He always made sure my sister and I had more candy than we should have had and always snuck a few coins in our pocket on the way out the door. He passed away a few years back and it wasn't until after he passed that I learned more about him and who he was.  "Pa" was a wonderful grandfather to me and just over the last year have I learned how much he gave to his country and his community.  He never talked about his past career in the military so I've set out to discover it on my own. With Memorial Day coming this weekend I thought I'd share a little about his life.
  

Fort McKinley 1936 (Alfred on the left) The fort was retired from active service in 1945.

Alfred Joseph Paul was born in Worcester, Massachusetts.  Immediately after leaving from North Brookfield High School, he joined the Army as a foot soldier. He was assigned to the the 1st Division, "The Big Red One", 5th Infantry. One of his first assignments was Fort McKinley on Great Diamond Island.  Fort McKinley, located at Diamond Cove, was designed to defend Portland Harbor during the Spanish-American War. Built between 1891 and 1907, Fort McKinley housed more than 1,000 soldiers in brick barracks and Queen Anne-style officers’ quarters surrounding a stately parade ground. 

I would imagine that Alfred met my grandmother, Emma Louise, while he was stationed there since her family, the Naaykens', were living in Portland. Her father and brother were also veterans of World War II. This picture was taken when all three returned home from World War II.  My grandfather is in the first row on the far left, followed by Edward John Naaykens (my great-grandfather), and Charles Naaykens (my great uncle).  The two gentlemen in the back row also are relatives.

Alfred went from Fort McKinley to serve in the Panama Canal Zone in the late 1930's. He then went on to Germany where he was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge in 1945 and received a Purple Heart.   "He was struck in the right hand and left hand by shrapnel while leading his rifle platoon in an attack on a small town in Germany," said a March 1945 news article in the Portland press Herald. I know he never spoke of his injuries or his Purple Heart to myself or my sister. 

After Alfred's return from Germany he was stationed in France in the early 1950's. The entire family traveled with him to France and lived there for a few years. My mother was old enough at the time to remember a lot about their stay there. I have a photo album full of pictures of the family, friends, and fellow soldiers taken during his stay there. Sometimes I wonder what ever
became of his friends over there. 

Alfred and his children France 1953

My grandfather was then stationed in Maine in the late 1950's at Fort Williams.  According to his dog tags he was known as "Golden Boy".  My mother and I had the opportunity to attend the Centennial Celebration of Fort Williams last summer.  As we walked around the Fort my mother recalled her childhood days of playing on the lawns and watching the soldiers on the parade grounds.  We stood in the very spot where her old house once stood near the old fire house.  We were fortunate enough to meet with several families in the Reunion Tent who were stationed at the Fort the same time my grandfather was. My mother had the chance to sit and talk with a fellow she used to play with as a child.

From Fort Williams Alfred was sent to Korea. Many of the photos I have are from this tour. He always sent something home from each campaign and Korea was no exception.  My mother has a porcelain geisha doll and authentic Korean flats and toe socks that he sent her from Korea. He also sent a set of china and bamboo silverware to my grandmother along with silk pajamas and kimonos for the children.

My grandfather not only sent material goods but also wrote love letters to my grandmother while he was away.  I was fortunate enough to have read a few that my grandmother kept. They contained the most affectionate words I could have ever imagined.  Reading those letters helped me to see my grandparents in a different light.  Even though those letters were very personal it made me realize that "Nana" and "Pa" were no different than any of the other couples who faced war together.  It gave me a deeper appreciation for the love that they shared.

My grandfather took this photo of his two friends at the 38th parallel. c. 1957

Upon Alfred's return from Korea he was stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Lawrence, Indiana with the Finance Department. Later he was sent to Fort Devens in Massachusetts. He was assigned out of Devens to work at the Army Recruiting Office in Auburn, Maine where he served as a Senior Enlisted Advisor.  He received an Army Commendation Medal upon retirement for  "exceptionally meritorious service as a Senior Enlisted Advisor..." in 1963. He also received the Army's Good Conduct Medal during his career. 

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In May, 1963 Alfred retired from the Army at Fort Devens as a Master Sergeant and settled with his family in Scarborough, Maine. He became a police officer for the Town of Scarborough.  In the late 1960's he moved from his job as a patrol officer to become the town's first dispatcher.  He retired from the police department in 1977 after 12 years on the force. Alfred was also a past president of the Scarborough Police Association. I grew up in Scarborough and it seemed like everyone knew my grandfather - bus drivers, police officers, teachers.... If they didn't know him they certainly knew the family name.  

Alfred remained active after his retirement by serving as a two-time president of the 5th U.S. Infantry Association. He was a member of the Harold T. Andrews American Legion Post and encouraged his family to be involved.  His two daughters were members of the Junior Auxiliary for the Andrews Unit AL as were two of his sisters-in-law.  

When he passed away in 1995 Alfred was 81 years old.  He had a brief stay at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough and is laid to rest beside my grandmother in South Portland's Calvary Cemetery.  He was buried with full military honors and the Honor Guard traveled all the way from New York to participate.  Every day I think about him and cherish the memories I have of him growing up. On Monday I'll also be thinking of all the men in the photographs with him knowing they helped him through the tough times abroad. So on Memorial Day I'll go visit his gravesite and be thankful for all he did for the country and our family. 

~a.p.~

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May 26, 2000