Paul E. Morgan
Biography: Paul Edward Morgan was born on August 17, 1922, in Casey County, Kentucky. He was the son of Alonzo Morgan and Sarah E. Bastin. Paul attended local school through the 5th grade but then started working full-time on the family farm.
He also worked logging at times and at some point, prior to entering the military, he joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps). With the CCC, he traveled the country working on various projects in the National Parks.
Service Time: Paul entered the Army on December 15, 1942, at Louisville, KY. He was shipped to Camp Atterbury, Indiana, for processing and arrived at Camp Hood, Texas, for assignment to Company C, 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion on Dec 28th. They trained at Sunnyvale, Camps San Luis Obispo and Cooke and the Desert Training Center, all in California along with Camp Hood, Texas. Companies B and C landed at Utah Beach, Normandy, France, on June 23, 1944. The unit supported the advance on Cherbourg and fought along the Seves River in July.
They participated in the drive to Le Mans and the envelopment of the Falaise Pocket in August. Advancing to the Moselle River in September, they supported operations against Metz, France, through November. The 607th converted to a self-propelled battalion equipped with M36 tank destroyers in time for the final assault at Metz. They joined the drive toward Saar River, participated in the capture of Saarlautern, and the subsequent fight against the Siegfried Line in December. Paul was promoted to Corporal on December 25, 1944.
They deployed to the Ardennes sector in January, 1945. Committed against the Siegfried Line again in February, in the Schnee Eifel, they advanced toward Koblenz, Germany, and supported the town’s capture in mid-March. On March 2, 1945, the TD Paul was in struck a mine, southeast of Ormont, Germany, and he was wounded, resulting in his evacuation to a hospital. He did not return to the unit. Paul received credit for four of the units campaigns; Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Ardennes-Alsace. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Good Conduct, WWII Victory and EAME medals.
After returning to the U.S., Paul married Sadie Benson from Middleburg, KY, on January 12, 1946. She was the daughter of Eugene F. Benson and Anna B. Deboard. The new couple made their home in Middleburg, KY. Paul went back to farming and raised tobacco into the mid-80’s. From the early 60’s to the early 90’s, he also ran a small trucking company hauling livestock and other agricultural products to market for local area farmers.
He and Sadie raised a son, Jimmie. In his spare time, he loved to crappie fish at Lake Cumberland, KY. He was also a member of the local Disabled American Veterans chapter. Paul had a special fondness for children and was a beloved “PapPaw” to his nieces, nephews and grandsons. He was also a grandfatherly figure to many children who came into his life over the years.
Paul passed away on July 24, 2007. He was buried in the Rich Hill Cemetery, Yosemite, KY. We would like to thank Paul’s grandson, Brian, for the information and photos used in this tribute along with additional photos posted in the 607th page gallery.