LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – It wasn’t uncommon to see brothers fighting together in the same war.  However, six brothers fighting in the same war was most unique.

The six Paul brothers from La Follette all served during World War II; Fred, Roy, Herbie, Buddy, Edwin and J.C.  Some of the brothers saw each other along the time they were all in the war, but J.C. said he didn’t run across any of his brothers.  All made it back home alive except for Fred.  J.C. (John Curtis) is the remaining Paul brother these days.

Herbie Paul

Roy Paul was injured in Alaska.

J.C. was drafted out of La Follette High School even though he had two more years to go to graduate.  “I was a little bit scared in my first days of training,” J.C. said.  Basic training was at Ft. Blanding, southwest of Jacksonville, Florida.

After Fred was killed, J.C. wanted to be a paratrooper.  However, higher ups said he wasn’t heavy enough to be a paratrooper.

We caught up with J.C. last Saturday.  He put lunch on hold to catch up and talk about his time of service.

There were wild hogs at one stop along Paul’s travels.  His mother had sent him a care package, and when he returned from a long training session, he found the package all torn open with most of the items gone.  His fellow soldiers had tried to make it look like a wild hog had ripped the package open.

Private First Class John Curtis Paul was a member of the Army’s G-Company 32nd Infantry Regiment 7th Army Division.  “I was in the rifle division,” said J.C.

J.C. was on Okinawa when the US dropped the atomic bomb on Japan.  In fact, he celebrated his 20th birthday on the Japanese island.  When the war ended, he was shipped out to South Korea to occupy and return Japanese back to Japan.

Margie, J.C.’s sweetheart of almost 70-years, talks as J.C. strains to hear her in our second visit on Tuesday.  The couple married on January 20, 1951, and honeymooned at the Russell Hotel in La Follette.

After the war, he came back home and finished high school, completed one-year of business college and married the love of his life, Margie Bowman.  He first worked at K-25 at Oak Ridge and then spent 28-years with the postal service.

As a youngster growing up in East La Follette, J.C. lived near the Country Club.  That’s where he made his money as a caddy and by selling water to thirsty golfers. “I met them on two tees, and they’d pay me a nickle or a dime and sometimes a quarter,” said J.C.  It’s also where he fell in love with the game of golf which he played weekly up until last year.  There were two memorable holes in one along the way; at Beaverbrook Country Club and at Middlesboro.  The hole in one at Middlesboro came on J.C.’s birthday.

J.C. , now 93, said, “I was glad I could serve.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 11/08/2019-6AM)

18 Replies to “There are heroes among us: J.C. Paul of the US Army”

  1. Thank you Jim for featuring this wonderful and remarkable story about J.C. Paul. He is so deserving of this honor. Thank you for your continued contributions to our community.

  2. JC and Margie are great people who have led their family well and cared for many. I am pleased to see this recognition for him.

  3. thank you for your service. you are very deserving of this honor… 2 very wonderful people. I’m glad u made an impact on my life as a young girl. love you both

  4. My Papaw and Mamaw Paul also had 2 nephews that they were raising also in the war. The picture that says Roy Paul is really my uncle Edwin who was shot in the shoulder. I remember as a child of him showing us where the bullet went in and came out the back of his shoulder. I am thankful for the service of all my uncle and my daddy Buddy Paul, who was a Purple Heart recipient.

  5. Uncle JC, the example of service, bravery, sacrifice and commitment that you have set for those of us who have looked up to you all our lives is such a gift. This has been true in your service to your country, faithfulness to your church and community and commitment to your family evidenced by raising 3 generations of children. Thank you!!!!!

  6. I got to know J. C. and Margie through golf. The best way to describe J.C. is – he was a gentleman. I love him and Margie. Thank you for your service.

  7. Thank you for your service JC. As a child, I had the privilege of attending church with JC and Margie at Indiana Ave. They are wonderful people.

  8. JC and Margie are two beautiful people. I went to church with them as a young girl and then for a while after we returned to a LaFollette after living away for 12 years. I always looked up to JC and Margie. I love them and thank you JC for your service to our country.

  9. Thank you J C Paul for your service and for your friendship. I have known you all of my life, gone to church with you and Margie. You deserve this honor and God Bless you for your service. It is a privilege to call you and Margie my friend. Love both of you.

  10. Heroes live among us – quietly living lives of honor, productivity, and humility. J. C. and all of those who have sacrificed made it possible for following generations to live in a safer, freer world and for that we are deeply and humbly indebted. As role models, the bravery and selflessness of J. C., his brothers and our other heroes do not go unnoticed. It can be observed in our community’s youth of today. Each of the heroes from earlier challenges has given us a legacy to honor and to continue. A salute and a thank you to J. C. and all our heroes of Campbell County.

  11. SOMEHOW, WHAT I POSTED YESTERDAY WAS PROBALY MY FAULT…I AM SO PROUD OF UNCLE J C AND ALL MY OTHER UNCLES…UNCLE J C IS THE ONLY UNCLE THAT I HAVE LEFT NOW….MY UNCLE HOLLIS AND HIS BROTHER DENNIS CABLE WERE ALSO IN THE SERVICE,,UNCLE HOLLIS DIED THIS PAST SUNDAY…HE WAS 94,,,ALL MY AUNTS AND UNCLES ON DADDY’S SIDE ARE NOW GONE TO HEAVEN….PRAISE DUE TO MY FAMILY WHO SERVED IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY…THANKS TO ALL WHO SERVED…THAT IS WHY I LOVE VETERAN’S DAY SO MUCH….TO HONOR ALL PEOPLE WHO SERVED…

  12. J.C. and Margie are such wonderful Godly people. It is not surprising that he honorably served our country. Thank you!!

  13. Thank you JC for your service not only in the United States Army but as a postal worker

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