Paul R. Hilty
Cullum: 18207
Class: '51
Cadet Company: C1
Date of Birth: December 18, 1925
Date of Death: September 1, 2008 - View or Post a Eulogy
From the USMA 1951 50th Reunion Book:
High school graduation in 1943, pharmacy college for a year, selective volunteer for the Navy, Through 'Boot Camp and Radio School, onto a baby flattop in the Pacific, and back to the U.S. to the Naval Academy Prep School, thanks to an earlier congressional exam hitting pay dirt for both academies. At course end, I chose West Point, was discharged from the Navy, and showed up on the Plain. West Point was so impressive I stayed an extra year. (Our Yearling room in the 8 1/2 division did it!) Upon graduation I chose Armor. Assigned to the 76th Tk Bn, 11th Abn Div, I had the chance to earn my jump wings. Within a year I was in Korea jumping for cover. Next came a tour with the 3rd Cav at Camp Picket, VA where I met my Emily, a Secretary at the hospital. We married the next year when the CAV moved to Ft. Meade. Soon "OPN GYROSCOPE" spun us all to border duty in Germany and spun us all back 3 yrs later, our lives enriched by our 2 year old son, Jeffrey. Next was the Advanced Course at Ft. Knox, a year at Columbia earning an M.A., and a tour with the USMA English Dept. Then came vietnam, briefly at MACV HQS then to the Delta as a DPSA. Tour's end led to Leavenworth followed by 3 yrs in OPO at the Pentagon. A new Province Senior Advisor Program offering concurrent travel and housing at Clark AFB in exchange for an 18 month tour in-country was next. Emily Red Crossed at the hospital and Jeff enjoyed his school and friends. MACV allowed Province Advisors free travel between Vietnam and Clark AFB to visit their families residing there. Upon an invitation from the Vietnamese Province Chief and his wife, it was also possible for an Advisor's visit her husband and his counterpart's family in-country. Emily was able to spend 5 days in-country with me, and the VC made several "welcoming" midnight probes. Both of these programs offered priceless, never-to-be forgotten experiences. After a tour on the faculty at the APSC, we moved to Carlisle Barracks where I became editor of PARAMETERS. After retirement in 1979, I became an English P at Florida Air Academy, and later at Melbourne HS. Jeff graduated from F.I.T. and his first job was with an airline in Philadelphia. Today, Jeff and his wife, Sandy, are both flight dispatchers for American Airlines in Dallas and have blessed us with Alyssa (10) and Sean (8). We've enjoyed R Ving since our first little trailer back in our Pentagon days, so we fill the gap as I "pilot" while Emily and I tool around in a 36 foot motor-home towing a Saturn. Presently homeowner duties keep us busy. Our active membership in a large, dynamic church seems to round out our schedule.
