Brigadier General Paul Albert Putnam, USMC (June 16, 1903 – May 21, 1982) commanded Marine Corps Fighter Squadron

VMF-211 Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211) is a United States Marine Corps fighter attack squadron, currently consisting of F-35B Lightning II stealth STOVL strike fighter jets. Known as the "Wake Island Avengers" and the "Bastion Defenders", ...

during the defense of

Wake Island Wake Island ( mh, Ānen Kio, translation=island of the kio flower; also known as Wake Atoll) is a coral atoll in the western Pacific Ocean in the northeastern area of the Micronesia subregion, east of Guam, west of Honolulu, southeast of T ...

in December 1941. He was awarded the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...

for heroism during the defense of Wake Island. He survived three and a half years as a prisoner of war and rose to the rank of brigadier general.

Early life

Paul Albert Putnam was born in Milan, Michigan on June 16, 1903. His family moved to Iowa when he was young and he attended

Iowa State University Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Iowa State University, Iowa State, or ISU) is a public land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa. Founded in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, Iowa State became one of the ...

for one year.

Education

Putnam enlisted in the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

on December 1, 1923, and took advantage of an education program called the Marine Corps Institute which enabled him to qualify to become a commissioned officer.

Early military career

He was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the on March 4, 1926. Putnam served three tours of duty in Nicaragua fighting insurgents. After his first tour, he was sent to flight training and served the next two tours as a pilot.

World War II and Wake Island

After rising to the rank of major, he was placed in command a detachment of Marine Corps Fighter Squadron 211 (VMF-211), which arrived at

on 4 December 1941. Shortly after the Japanese attack on

Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the Naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the R ...

on December 7, Japanese forces attacked Wake Island. Seven of VMF-211's twelve aircraft were destroyed in the initial Japanese bombing attack on the airfield. The remaining planes of Putnam's squadron, along with the other Marines on the island, put up a stout defense but were eventually overwhelmed by superior forces. Putnam, along with Commander Winfield Scott Cunningham, USN and Major

James Devereux James Patrick Sinnott Devereux (February 20, 1903 – August 5, 1988) was a United States Marine Corps general, Navy Cross recipient, and Republican congressman. He was the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the 1st Defense Battalion Detachment dur ...

, USMC, was one of the key leaders of the defense of Wake Island. On December 21, the island was attacked by Japanese aircraft and Putnam took off on an unescorted flight in search of the Japanese aircraft carrier from which the attacking planes were based. For this action, he was awarded the Navy Cross after the war. On December 23 Wake Island was captured by the Japanese and Putnam, along with the other surviving Wake Island defenders, was taken prisoner. He was held in Japanese POW camps from December 1941 until September 1945, when he was released at the end of the war.

Post war

After the war, Putnam continued his career in the Marine Corps and was promoted to colonel retroactive to November 15, 1942. In 1947 he was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism on December 21, 1941, when he took off in a plane on an unescorted flight in an attempt to find the Japanese aircraft carrier whose planes were attacking Wake Island. Putnam retired in 1956; he was promoted to brigadier general on the retired list in recognition of his wartime service.

Awards

Navy Cross citation

''The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Colonel Paul Albert Putnam (MCSN: 0-4036), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as Commanding Officer and a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN (VMF-211), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Wake Island, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the defense of Wake Island on 21 December 1941. When the island was subjected to a relentless attack by carrier-based hostile aircraft, Major Putnam proceeded by truck to the airfield and, although severely strafed by enemy planes on the way and forced to abandon his truck on two occasions, succeeded in reaching his objective. Then, embarking in a friendly fighter plane, he executed an unsupported flight far out to sea in a desperate attempt to locate the Japanese carrier. By his initiative and courage throughout this hazardous action, Major Putnam upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.'' General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific Forces: Serial 11583 (January 14, 1947) Action Date: 21-Dec-41

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Putnam, Paul A. 1903 births 1982 deaths People from Milan, Michigan United States Marine Corps generals United States Marine Corps pilots of World War II American prisoners of war in World War II World War II prisoners of war held by Japan United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Military personnel from Michigan