Paul A. Putnam
| Paul Albert Putnam | |
|---|---|
| Born |
June 16, 1903 Milan, Michigan |
| Died | May 21, 1982 (aged 78) Fairfax, Virginia |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps
|
| Years of service | 1926–1956 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier General
|
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Navy Cross |
Brigadier General Paul Albert Putnam, USMC (June 16, 1903 – May 21, 1982) commanded Marine Corps Fighter Squadron VMF-211 during the defense of Wake Island in December 1941. He was awarded the Navy Cross 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.
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 for one year.
Putnam enlisted in the United States Marine Corps 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.
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.
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 Wake Island on 4 December 1941. Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 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, 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.
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