Reflecting on friend before Memorial Day

  • Published
  • By Col. (Dr.) Kurt Lambert
  • 349th Medical Group
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  As the last Monday of May approaches, we will officially honor the sacrifices of those who served our country nobly and gave their lives in the name of freedom.

I would like to share with you the story of Paul Claussen.

Paul was a patient of mine and a veteran of the Pacific campaign in World War II. He was soft-spoken, 6 feet, 6 inches, 230 pound man and entered service in 1942 as a newlywed.

He returned a 120 pound shadow of what he once was. During his service, Paul survived two plane crashes, walking away from one and swimming away from the other.

During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, he survived the night treading water. Being a strong swimmer, he gave his "Mae West" life preserver to a more severely injured comrade. He was an incredible man to talk to, I always tried to schedule more time with Paul so I could glean more stories.

His wife, Alice, was just as interesting to talk with. To hear her talk about how, upon his return, she didn't even recognize him when he stepped off the train and afraid to even hug him in fear of "breaking him," was eye watering. Alice helped take care of Paul through his 47 recurrences of malaria.

After the war, Paul went on to serve his country in the Boy Scouts of America for 38 years. Paul ran the Philmont Scout Ranch in northeast New Mexico, mentoring and developing young men, until his retirement.

Paul died last August. His philosophy truly defined the man and his life: "In a hundred years, it will not matter what kind of house I lived in, what kind of car I drove or the size of my bank account, but the world will be different because I was important in the life of a boy."

I know there are thousands of men and women out there with stories of honor and sacrifice that may never be told. Every day, we lose a part of our living military history. Unfortunately, every day, we also add to this history of honor and sacrifice.

As a boy, Memorial Day meant an extra day at the lake. It was the starting pistol for summer vacation. It was only as a young man that I appreciated what this one day really meant. This Memorial Day will be a little different for me. I'll miss my friend Paul and realize that one day of recognition just doesn't seem like enough.