I used to call Dad every Nov 10 and wish him a Happy Birthday. Mom NEVER understood why it was such a big deal to him.
Fast forward towards the end .. Dad was unresponsive, but Mom was always at his side. Dad did not respond to Mom or to anyone. He just laid there fading away.
One day a young man knocked on the door of Dad's room and asked if he could come in and talk to Dad. Mom told him he was welcome to try .. all the while knowing she'd kick his butt down the hallway if there was a problem. He had seen Dad's display case containing USMC items.
Anyhow, this young man sat by Dad - held his hand - and thanked him - thanked him for his service and how much we all owed those WWII guys who literally saved the world. He said his own Dad was already guarding the gates of heaven, and soon Dad would be there, and he too would later follow.
Then that young man said, "Semper Fi."
And my unresponsive Dad said, "Se ..." That's all he could get out.
And then Mom understood.
---
Wallace Paulson, age 85, of Bemidji, Minnesota, died Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at Neilson Place, Bemidji, MN. Memorial Services will be 2:00 PM, Friday, May 16, 2008, at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji, MN with Pastor Dean Nelson officiating. Family will greet friends one hour before the service at the funeral home. Inurnment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji, MN. Arrangements were entrusted to the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji, MN. Honorary bearers will be, Jeff Foster, Ray Klasen, Art Kern and Kerry Ringstad. Wallace Morgan Paulson was born May 4, 1923 to Melvin and Hulda (Jacobson) Paulson in Bemidji, MN. He graduated from Bemidji High School in 1941. He was hired on as an axe man helping to build the Alaska Highway in 1942, and returned to enlist in the Marines in 1944. He landed on Okinawa with the 1st Marine Division in April 1945, and later served in the Occupation of North China until 1947. From then on he remained close to the land, farming, logging and working for Jeff Foster as a carpenter. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Maxine of Bemidji and daughter, Jo Paulson, son-in-law, Art Kern, aunt Nora Roesner, a brother Leonard of Charleston, SC, special friends, Ray & Diane Klasen, Jeff & Becky Foster, and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Julie Kern, 2 nieces and 1 nephew.
Semper Fi.
Granddog: Miss Pea
Granddog: Star
Fast forward towards the end .. Dad was unresponsive, but Mom was always at his side. Dad did not respond to Mom or to anyone. He just laid there fading away.
One day a young man knocked on the door of Dad's room and asked if he could come in and talk to Dad. Mom told him he was welcome to try .. all the while knowing she'd kick his butt down the hallway if there was a problem. He had seen Dad's display case containing USMC items.
Anyhow, this young man sat by Dad - held his hand - and thanked him - thanked him for his service and how much we all owed those WWII guys who literally saved the world. He said his own Dad was already guarding the gates of heaven, and soon Dad would be there, and he too would later follow.
Then that young man said, "Semper Fi."
And my unresponsive Dad said, "Se ..." That's all he could get out.
And then Mom understood.
---
Wallace Paulson, age 85, of Bemidji, Minnesota, died Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at Neilson Place, Bemidji, MN. Memorial Services will be 2:00 PM, Friday, May 16, 2008, at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji, MN with Pastor Dean Nelson officiating. Family will greet friends one hour before the service at the funeral home. Inurnment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji, MN. Arrangements were entrusted to the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji, MN. Honorary bearers will be, Jeff Foster, Ray Klasen, Art Kern and Kerry Ringstad. Wallace Morgan Paulson was born May 4, 1923 to Melvin and Hulda (Jacobson) Paulson in Bemidji, MN. He graduated from Bemidji High School in 1941. He was hired on as an axe man helping to build the Alaska Highway in 1942, and returned to enlist in the Marines in 1944. He landed on Okinawa with the 1st Marine Division in April 1945, and later served in the Occupation of North China until 1947. From then on he remained close to the land, farming, logging and working for Jeff Foster as a carpenter. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Maxine of Bemidji and daughter, Jo Paulson, son-in-law, Art Kern, aunt Nora Roesner, a brother Leonard of Charleston, SC, special friends, Ray & Diane Klasen, Jeff & Becky Foster, and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Julie Kern, 2 nieces and 1 nephew.
Semper Fi.
Granddog: Miss Pea
Granddog: Star
I used to call Dad every Nov 10 and wish him a Happy Birthday. Mom NEVER understood why it was such a big deal to him.
Fast forward towards the end .. Dad was unresponsive, but Mom was always at his side. Dad did not respond to Mom or to anyone. He just laid there fading away.
One day a young man knocked on the door of Dad's room and asked if he could come in and talk to Dad. Mom told him he was welcome to try .. all the while knowing she'd kick his butt down the hallway if there was a problem. He had seen Dad's display case containing USMC items.
Anyhow, this young man sat by Dad - held his hand - and thanked him - thanked him for his service and how much we all owed those WWII guys who literally saved the world. He said his own Dad was already guarding the gates of heaven, and soon Dad would be there, and he too would later follow.
Then that young man said, "Semper Fi."
And my unresponsive Dad said, "Se ..." That's all he could get out.
And then Mom understood.
---
Wallace Paulson, age 85, of Bemidji, Minnesota, died Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at Neilson Place, Bemidji, MN. Memorial Services will be 2:00 PM, Friday, May 16, 2008, at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji, MN with Pastor Dean Nelson officiating. Family will greet friends one hour before the service at the funeral home. Inurnment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji, MN. Arrangements were entrusted to the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji, MN. Honorary bearers will be, Jeff Foster, Ray Klasen, Art Kern and Kerry Ringstad. Wallace Morgan Paulson was born May 4, 1923 to Melvin and Hulda (Jacobson) Paulson in Bemidji, MN. He graduated from Bemidji High School in 1941. He was hired on as an axe man helping to build the Alaska Highway in 1942, and returned to enlist in the Marines in 1944. He landed on Okinawa with the 1st Marine Division in April 1945, and later served in the Occupation of North China until 1947. From then on he remained close to the land, farming, logging and working for Jeff Foster as a carpenter. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Maxine of Bemidji and daughter, Jo Paulson, son-in-law, Art Kern, aunt Nora Roesner, a brother Leonard of Charleston, SC, special friends, Ray & Diane Klasen, Jeff & Becky Foster, and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Julie Kern, 2 nieces and 1 nephew.
Semper Fi.
Granddog: Miss Pea
Granddog: Star
Fast forward towards the end .. Dad was unresponsive, but Mom was always at his side. Dad did not respond to Mom or to anyone. He just laid there fading away.
One day a young man knocked on the door of Dad's room and asked if he could come in and talk to Dad. Mom told him he was welcome to try .. all the while knowing she'd kick his butt down the hallway if there was a problem. He had seen Dad's display case containing USMC items.
Anyhow, this young man sat by Dad - held his hand - and thanked him - thanked him for his service and how much we all owed those WWII guys who literally saved the world. He said his own Dad was already guarding the gates of heaven, and soon Dad would be there, and he too would later follow.
Then that young man said, "Semper Fi."
And my unresponsive Dad said, "Se ..." That's all he could get out.
And then Mom understood.
---
Wallace Paulson, age 85, of Bemidji, Minnesota, died Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at Neilson Place, Bemidji, MN. Memorial Services will be 2:00 PM, Friday, May 16, 2008, at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji, MN with Pastor Dean Nelson officiating. Family will greet friends one hour before the service at the funeral home. Inurnment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji, MN. Arrangements were entrusted to the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji, MN. Honorary bearers will be, Jeff Foster, Ray Klasen, Art Kern and Kerry Ringstad. Wallace Morgan Paulson was born May 4, 1923 to Melvin and Hulda (Jacobson) Paulson in Bemidji, MN. He graduated from Bemidji High School in 1941. He was hired on as an axe man helping to build the Alaska Highway in 1942, and returned to enlist in the Marines in 1944. He landed on Okinawa with the 1st Marine Division in April 1945, and later served in the Occupation of North China until 1947. From then on he remained close to the land, farming, logging and working for Jeff Foster as a carpenter. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Maxine of Bemidji and daughter, Jo Paulson, son-in-law, Art Kern, aunt Nora Roesner, a brother Leonard of Charleston, SC, special friends, Ray & Diane Klasen, Jeff & Becky Foster, and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Julie Kern, 2 nieces and 1 nephew.
Semper Fi.
Granddog: Miss Pea
Granddog: Star
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SGT US MARINE CORPS
WORLD WAR II
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