Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Paul
Luther
Bolden
June 15, 1922

–

May 21, 1979

Cemetery:

Moons Cemetery

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Sergeant [then Private First Class]

    Batallion:

    3d Battalion

    Regiment:

    120th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    30th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    August 12, 1944
    Headquarters, 30th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 68 (October 3, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant [then Private First Class] Paul Luther Bolden (ASN: 34396135), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 12 August 1944, in France. Sergeant Bolden was serving as a squad leader with an infantry force which had been isolated by ferocious enemy attacks for a considerable period of time. Efforts to supply the group by aeroplane had not been very successful, and many of the supplies which had been dropped fell into enemy-held territory. Sergeant Bolden with a companion, voluntarily entered enemy territory to try to recover some of the supplies. By creeping and crawling, they advanced deep into the enemy-held area before their presence was discovered. During the firefight which ensued, Sergeant Bolden and his companion completely destroyed a machine gun nest and killed its crew. Continuing on his dangerous mission, he successfully retrieved from enemy territory sorely needed provisions for his isolated garrison and returned them safely to friendly lines. The gallant devotion to duty shown by Sergeant Bolden reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Armed Forces.

  • Medal of Honor

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Staff Sergeant

    Batallion:

    3d Battalion

    Regiment:

    120th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    30th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    December 23, 1944
    War Department, General Orders No. 73, August 30, 1945

    The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Paul Luther Bolden (ASN: 34396135), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. Staff Sergeant Bolden voluntarily attacked a formidable enemy strong point in Petit-Coo, Belgium, on 23 December, 1944, when his company was pinned down by extremely heavy automatic and small-arms fire coming from a house 200 yards to the front. Mortar and tank artillery shells pounded the unit, when Staff Sergeant Bolden and a comrade, on their own initiative, moved forward into a hail of bullets to eliminate the ever-increasing fire from the German position. Crawling ahead to close with what they knew was a powerfully armed, vastly superior force, the pair reached the house and took up assault positions, Staff Sergeant Bolden under a window, his comrade across the street where he could deliver covering fire. In rapid succession, Staff Sergeant Bolden hurled a fragmentation grenade and a white phosphorous grenade into the building; and then, fully realizing that he faced tremendous odds, rushed to the door, threw it open and fired into 35 SS troopers who were trying to reorganize themselves after the havoc wrought by the grenades. Twenty Germans died under fire of his submachine gun before he was struck in the shoulder, chest, and stomach by part of a burst which killed his comrade across the street. He withdrew from the house, waiting for the surviving Germans to come out and surrender. When none appeared in the doorway, he summoned his ebbing strength, overcame the extreme pain he suffered and boldly walked back into the house, firing as he went. He had killed the remaining 15 enemy soldiers when his ammunition ran out. Staff Sergeant Bolden’s heroic advance against great odds, his fearless assault, and his magnificent display of courage in reentering the building where he had been severely wounded cleared the path for his company and insured the success of its mission.