Tribute to a Great Man, Paul Clement
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It is with great sadness that we share the news that Paul Clement, a long-serving and exceptional volunteer, has passed away. Many of you have met or even worked alongside Paul over the years, and everyone who knew him knows what a good, kind man he was.
If you would like to read Paul’s obituary, you can do so
here
.
We pay tribute to his life and outstanding service as a volunteer with Buddy-to-Buddy. Words cannot capture just quite how special Paul was, but below is our attempt to do so.
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Paul enlisted in the Army in November 1966, going through basic training and airborne infantry specialized training at Fort Gordon, GA. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion 506th Airborne Infantry 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY and deployed to Vietnam in October 1967.
Paul and his unit saw heavy combat in Vietnam, once going on what was supposed to be a five-day mission that lasted 63 days. He and his unit fought mightily during the Tet Offensive, including a battle where eight soldiers were killed in action and 15 others wounded.
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Paul stayed with the Airborne Infantry unit until he was wounded in 1968. He spent three months in the hospital recovering at Fort Polk, LA. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster for Valor. Paul was then tasked with taking over the Headquarters 3rd Detachment Company. Under Paul’s leadership, his was the only Headquarters Company to pass an important inspection by the Inspector General, for which Paul received a letter of commendation.
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After his service, Paul married Patricia (Patti) Britton and went on to work for the U.S. Postal Service for over 30 years. He regularly attended the annual 101st Airborne Reunions. He served for years on the Chippewa County Veterans Affairs Board and as an officer for the DAV. He was also a Life Time Member of the VFW CCH and Member of American Legion. In 2016, Paul was inducted into the Distinguished Member of the Regiment for the 3-506 101st Airborne, his unit in Vietnam.
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Receiving an award from his unit in 2016
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Paul continued his life of service by training to become a Buddy-to-Buddy volunteer in November 2013. He never shied away from challenging cases or situations and always communicated effectively with program staff to coordinate his efforts. In addition to taking referrals from his local community, Paul attended drill with the 1437 EN CO at the Sault Ste. Marie armory. Through his involvement at the armory and within the community, Paul helped numerous service members and veterans throughout the years with issues including benefits/claims, finances, and health. He attended many events on behalf of Buddy-to-Buddy and was a wonderful representative of the program.
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Going through B2B Volunteer Training in 2013
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Paul and his wife Patti faithfully made the trek down from the U.P each year to attend the annual Volunteer Recognition Events. We will dearly miss seeing Paul at these events and the occasional visits he would make to the B2B office whenever he was in the area.
In 2014, Paul wrote a moving account of his time serving, his experience after returning from Vietnam, and the good work he did in service to fellow veterans as a Buddy-to-Buddy volunteer and through the other veterans organizations he has served in. You can read his personal account
here
.
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Holding a sign that read "I'm a Buddy because I want returning veterans to know how much their service is appreciated" at the 2016 Volunteer Recognition Event
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Paul is survived by Patti, his wife of nearly 50 years, his son Gary, four grandchildren, and numerous siblings, nieces and nephews. If you would like to write your own tribute to Paul, we encourage you to do so on the
online guestbook
for his obituary. Alternately, you can
email
us your thoughts about Paul and we will send them to his family. Lower down in this message are tributes from former B2B Program Manager Stephanie Zarb and Platoon Sergeant volunteer Ron Springer.
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Paul with his granddaughters
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Paul's family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Task Force 3/506 Flower Fund 1608 Birchtree Lane, St. Germain, WI 54558. Paul and Patti have made sure that every year on Memorial Day flowers are placed on 106 graves of those in the 101st Airborne 3-506 Infantry who were killed in Vietnam from 1967-1971.
Paul, we thank you for your service to your country and your tireless efforts to serve and honor service members and fellow veterans. You will not be forgotten.
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Paul with former B2B Program Manager Stephanie Zarb and volunteer Phil Presnell
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"Paul Clement was a hero. I know that word gets thrown around a bit loosely these days, but it’s the only word I can think of to describe a man who had done so much for so many with such humility. Paul Clement served with the 101st Airborne and was involved in some of the heaviest fighting in the Vietnam War. He told me stories from time to time that made me wonder how someone who had seen such horror could be such a wonderful, kind, and generous man. Men like Paul serve as an example to my generation, that no matter how lost we feel or how dark our days become, that life after war is possible, and can be beautiful, filled with hope and purpose. As much as it hurts to lose a man like Paul, I feel so very lucky to have known him and to have been a part of an organization that brought together men like him in the service to others. We lost a hero in Paul, but we are also so very lucky to have been given the chance to know him."
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Stephanie Zarb, former B2B Program Manager
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Paul (second from right) along with other volunteers, including Ron Springer (front row, center), at the 2014 Volunteer Recognition Event
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"Paul Clement always had a smile on his face and a quick joke when you saw him. He was a quiet, kind man who didn't expect a lot of accolades. We were both in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, but he was there before I was and had it far rougher than I did. We talked at the recognition event in April and at breakfast the next day. We were making plans for him and Patti to visit us in East Lansing this summer. Even though we only saw each other once or twice a year, I will miss him tremendously as he was the kind of guy who you thought of as an old friend you had known forever."
—
Ron Springer, B2B volunteer
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Buddy-to-Buddy Volunteer Veteran Program
2025 Traverwood Dr., Suite C | Ann Arbor, MI 48105
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