A memorial to Paul Steich

Our soon to be 101 year old WWII veteran Paul Elwood Steich was drafted into the Army in April of 1943. He left his hometown of Hanover for basic training at Camp Edwards, Cape Cod. Paul’s military job was known as a Cannoneer of a 90mm 8 man Anti-aircraft Gun team, where his responsibility was to push the shell into the barrel and fire it. On December 5, 1943 they were given orders to move, so he took a five day train ride to California and a five day boat ride to the Island of Oahu in Hawaii overlooking Pearl Harbor. Once there, all American planes were grounded at dark, at which time he and his crew were told to shoot at anything flying. In June of 1944 they were given new orders to move and Paul spent twenty one days on a troop ship landing the evening of the Saipan Invasion, where he saw shells flying. The Advanced Force was already there and set up and upon exiting the ship, they walked through water above their waists due to no docks or piers while all the equipment and ammunition needed to be drug underwater. He encountered many flies, mosquitoes and temperatures of 110 degrees. The Japanese would poison the water supplies so good drinking water needed to be taken with them. In 1945 Paul flew back to the Island of Oahu, Hawaii where he worked at the 5th Medical Supply Depot upon being discharged in 1945 and returned home two days before Christmas. He later married his high school sweetheart, Doris Rebert and they celebrated 75 years of marriage together prior to her passing in 2022. Paul has three living children two deceased children, eight grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren.