His name is Lt. Col. Jerome Paull. But my wife knew him as “Uncle Jerry.” He was her godfather, one of her dad’s oldest and dearest friends. Jerry Paull’s daughter, Elizabeth, served as a flower girl in our wedding almost exactly 40 years ago.
Today, Jerry Paull was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. His story deserves to be told.
Jerry was born on November 5, 1935 in Madison, WI, and after a few years living in Chicago, settled in Arlington, VA.
He attended St. Agnes Catholic School in Arlington, VA, and St. John’s College High School in Washington, DC. He was a member of the class of 1958 at VMI. He left school to become a Marine where he served as an embassy guard in Denmark before returning to graduate from Virginia Military Institute in 1963.
After finishing college, he rejoined the U.S. Marine Corps and became a member of Force Recon. In June 1966, he led the first combat helicopter parachute jump in USMC history while in Vietnam. He went on to serve as Assistant Naval Attaché to Denmark. He received a Bronze Star Medal and two Purple Hearts before retiring in 1981.
Following his military career, he briefly taught history at La Reine High School in Suitland, MD, before getting a job as a budget analyst at the FDA.
He was a devout Catholic and volunteered with the Big Brothers organization as well as at the Ft. Myer USO and Arlington Hospital (VHC) where he spent time with hospice patients. When he wasn’t serving his community, he enjoyed playing golf, long-distance running, eating breakfast at Linda’s Cafe, walking his beagle, Tippy, and watching Jeopardy, college basketball and football.
Preceded by his son James, Jerry is survived by his wife of 44 years, Karen, and daughter Elizabeth.
The world needs more men like Jerry Paull.
An honor guard saluted him today in Arlington. My prayer this day is that another one is waiting for him in Paradise.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him…
