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<p><em>Peter Grant Paulson </em>was born in Indiana, PA on July 17, 1945. He graduated from Kane Area High School, PA in June 1963 and spent one year at Indiana State College, PA before entering West Point with the Class of 1968. </p>
<p>Pete had numerous athletic accomplishments in high school, including four letters in track, two in basketball, and two in football, He was also the president of the varsity club. He was class president his sophomore, junior, and senior years and was a member of the student council and National Honor Society. Pete also attained the rank of Eagle Scout. </p>
<p>After “Beast Barracks,” Pete was assigned to Company L-1, which became C-3 with the Corps reorganization. Classmates and roommates all attested to Pete’s caring attitude and friendly demeanor. One roommate bought an electric guitar and amp with the intention of learning to play it, but he was amazed when Pete picked it up and could play many songs by ear. A classmate said Pete was a perfect gentleman who was always willing to help others when needed. Pete had a great sense of humor and an amazing intellect, even though he seemed to seldom crack a book. Still another said Pete saved him from “certain death” as a plebe when he overslept as head newspaper deliverer, and Pete voluntarily covered for him. His determined attitude, high spirits, and friendly nature guided Pete through the four long years as a cadet. He was always on top in physical fitness, demonstrating his competitiveness. Pete’s true character can be summarized by two words, “desire and determination.”</p>
<p>Introduced by a mutual friend, Pete met his future bride, Katherine Roberta Edmiston, on a blind date in April 1967. Their second date was the Ring Hop. Pete asked Kathy to marry him in October 1967. They were married June 8, 1968 at Kathy’s parish church.</p>
<p>Pete branched into Signal Corps. After Ranger School, Airborne School, and the Signal Officer Basic Course, Pete was assigned as a company commander in the 124th Signal Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Central Highlands, Vietnam. Pete was highly respected by his troops. When a classmate required emergency surgery in very primitive conditions, Pete organized a blood drive to support him. </p>
<p>Pete was logistics officer for the 307th Signal Battalion supporting the 3rd Korean Army. He commanded the 8th Signal Battalion supporting the 8th Infantry Division in Germany. He worked on diverse projects, including the Night Vision Program and the Bradley Fighting Vehicle Program. He graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1978. In 1979 he was awarded a Master of Science degree from the Florida Institute of Technology. He was a national security fellow at Harvard University in 1988 and 1989 as part of the Army War College. His last four years of active duty were spent at the Pentagon with the Office of the Secretary of the Army, where he oversaw tactical programs in Command and Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence. Pete’s numerous awards included the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, and Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster. Pete retired in 1993 as a colonel with 25 years of service.</p>
<p>Pete joined Unisys Corporation working as the director of their defense programs development. In 1997 he returned to the Defense Department as a member of the Senior Executive Service to oversee implementation of a complete changeout of the department’s communications systems. Pete was awarded the 2000 Presidential Rank Award by Secretary of Defense William Cohen. Pete led the largest transformation of the DOD information technology infrastructure ever undertaken. His efforts led to a modern network that supported the emerging Internet. In addition, Pete established a competitive program to replace the sole source ATT contract, which ultimately saved DOD over $100M a year. Upon its completion in 2001, he returned to Unisys and became a vice president overseeing its defense business. Pete retired from this second career in 2006.</p>
<p>When Kathy’s father died suddenly, her mother came to live with them for eight years. She was legally blind, and Pete warmly welcomed her into their home. His kindness and patience were marvelous, reading the Sunday crossword puzzle clues aloud to her weekly. </p>
<p>After he retired from Unisys, Pete and Kathy moved to Charlottesville, VA. There he honed his skill as a woodworker, designing and making built-in bookshelves, cabinets and a work desk from raw cherry boards he purchased from a mill in his hometown of Kane. </p>
<p>Pete joined the Charlottesville senior center, where he participated in a weekly poker game and led a discussion group on current affairs. He enjoyed watching commentaries on TV and having spirited political discussions with his sons, Peter and Scott. When he wasn’t getting his news fix, he might be watching Pink Panther movies with them and laughing way too much!</p>
<p>Pete became a personal advocate for a veteran he met at the senior center and helped him get access to the benefits and care that he was entitled to. </p>
<p>In the last years of his life Pete stoically struggled with heart and lung disease. He was a good man; he was an honorable man who loved his country; and he was well loved. </p>
<p><em>— Tom Jewell ’68, Classmates and Family</em></p>
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