Paul Lester Skogsberg

Paul Skogsberg , Lt Col US Army Ret, Winter Park, FL died on Dec 29. He is survived by three sons and 10 grandchildren: Richard (3); Eric (2); and John (5). Born in Oct 1919 in Worcester MA, Paul attended UMass, was in Horse Cavalry ROTC. and graduated June, 1941. He then went on Active Duty as a 2d Lt with the 1st Infantry Division, serving with that unit until the end of WWII. He made the invasions of North Africa in Nov '42, Sicily in Jul '43, and Normandy in Jun '44. He was wounded in Tunisia in Feb '43, rescued by Bedouins and spent 6 wks recuperating in a British Army Hospital. After release he expected orders to return to the US, but was declared fit for duty and when he requested reassignment to the 1st Div, was told he would be reassigned to a combat unit as soon as request was received for someone with his rank and MOS. The next morning, without orders, he hitched a ride from the Repl Depot to the Army Air Field in Algiers, conned his way onto a transport plane to Youks les Bains, Tunisia, then hitched a ride to Gen Patton's HQ, where he was promptly taken prisoner as he was not in uniform and thought to be a spy. After interrogation, his ID was confirmed and he was on his way back to his unit near El Gitar in time for dinner the same day. He was wounded again in Germany in April '45. He met his wife, Vera L. Sheaffer, an American Army Nurse in May '43 near Oran, Algeria. They married in Jan '47 and enjoyed 55 beautiful years together. After Army retirement in 1964 he earned a MA at Rollins and taught school in Central Florida for 16 years: at Evans, Meadowbrook, Maitland, and Winter Park. He was involved with his children's activities, serving as a Scout Master, and as crew coach at WP High School for 2 yrs, when WPHS won the State crew championship. Prior to his wife's death, he and Vera compiled their war years' memories in a book entitled "Dear Sheaf." Following his wife's death he attended Aloma United Methodist Church, volunteered at the VA hospital for 8 yrs, and returned to writing, penning the story of his life, 'Born Lucky.' Indeed he was, and as he often said, "never got over it." Paul's remains will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.