Born in Stockton, California, October 10, 1917, Graduated from the Salinas, California, High School, June 1935
Enrolled in the University of California, Davis, August 1935 Two-Year Curriculum - Animal Husbandry
Graduated in May 1937
Engaged in farming until he enlisted in the Army of the United States

Military Service

MILITARY HISTORY
01 178 929

Military Training

Inducted, Army of the United States, and entered on active duty 9 January 1942 as Private.
From Jan to Jan 1942; Hq Corps Area Command, Unit 1930, Presidio of Monterey, California.
Jan to Mar 1942; Battery B, 52d FA Training Battalion, Camp Roberts, California.
Mar to Dec 1942; Hq & Hq Battery, 343d FA Bn, Camp Barkeley, Texas.
Dec 1942 to Mar 1943, FAS Detachment (W), Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Grades Held

Promoted to Private First Class, 26 May 1942.
Promoted to Corporal, 15 December 1942; honorably discharged 10 March 1943.

COMMISSIONED Second Lieutenant, AUS, 11 March 1943; accepted appointment and entered on active duty same date.
COMMISSIONED First Lieutenant, AUS, 21 August 1944.

Active Service Assignments

Mar to Mar 1943; 333d FA, Camp Gruber, Oklahoma.
Mar 1943 to Feb 1944; Battery Officer, Ammunitions Officer & motor Officer Sv Btry, 969 FA Bn, Camp Gruber.
Mar to Dec 1944; Motor Officer, Reconnaissance Officer, Sv & B Btry, 969th FA Bn, European Theater of Operations.
In Service 2 years, 11 months and 14 days.

Lieutenant Paulsen died in Belgium on 22 December 1944, as a result of wounds received in action on 20 December 1944.

Decorations and Awards

BRONZE STAR MEDAL with Letter 'V ' Device.
PURPLE HEART (Posthumous).
DISTINGUISHED UNIT EMBLEM.
WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL.
AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL.
EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL with Four Bronze Service Stars for participation in Ardennes - Alsace, Normandy, Northern France, and Rhineland Campaigns.
MARKSMAN BADGE with Rifle Bar.

The Let. Billy Paulsen, Jr. Post No, 6849, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Spreckels, California, was so named in his honor 22 April 1946.