JEROME JAY PADEN, First Lieutenant, Artillery, born 17 December 1926, died 20 September 1950, of battle wounds received in Korea. He was a professional soldier who died in the pursuit of his profession. To the Army, a superior officer; to his wife, a beloved husband; to his parents, a fine and loved son; and to his countrymen, a man who died with others fighting for the preservation of the principles of our great re- public.

In an attack on a hill north of Taegu on the morning of 19 September, Jerry, acting as forward observer for his battery, voluntarily entered enemy territory to better direct artillery fires, making possible the success of the mission of the supported troops. He and his detail were struck by mortar fire which resulted in several casualties-Jerry being severely wounded. He was given first aid before being evacuated to a field hospital in Taegu-from which he was transferred on the following day to a hospital in Japan, where he died of his wounds that night. Jerry was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for his gallant actions, as described in the following citation:

"First Lieutenant Jerome Jay Paden (then Second Lieutenant), 059363, Arty, U.S. Army, a member of Battery A, 61st Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Cav. Div. for gallantry in action against the enemy on 19 September 1950, near Waegwan, Korea. Lieutenant Paden was in charge of a forward observation party providing close artillery support to an infantry battalion engaged in an attack on a heavily fortified enemy hill position. After skillfully adjusting artillery fire which enabled the infantry units to eliminate strong points, Lieutenant Paden voluntarily accompanied a platoon in the final assault, at great risk to his own life. He repeatedly exposed himself to heavy enemy artillery, mortar, and small arms fire in order to afford friendly units maximum fire support. Lieutenant Paden continued to successfully adjust fire which made possible the success of the assigned mission, until he was seriously wounded. Lieutenant Paden's gallantry and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and on the military service".

Jerry was born in Los Angeles, California, where he attended grade and high schools and Pomona College before entering the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1945. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon graduation in 1949, and spent the following year in basic and branch schools in the United States. He was married to Miss Elaine Harper in Waverly, New York, on 8 July 1950. Following a short, honeymoon in Canada and California he was flown to Korea, where he was im- mediately placed on front line duty in early August.

Jerry was returned to West Point where he went to rest with full military honors not twenty paces from the old Cadet Chapel. He is survived by his wife, Elaine Harper Paden: his father and mother, Major and Mrs. John Kenneth Paden; and his brother, Captain John Kenneth Paden, Jr., of Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Since Jerry lived such a friendly life, shared with all he knew, perhaps he would wish to be remembered as one who fulfilled the generous thought expressed in the old Cadet song:

. . . May our country in the hour of need
       be ready for the foe;
May we find a soldier's resting-place
       beneath a soldier's blow,
With room enough beside our graves for
        Benny Havens, Oh!"

J.K.P.Jr.