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Paul Russell “Slim” Bonnett

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Paul Russell “Slim” Bonnett

Birth	:	27 Jun 1920 Bussey, Marion County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	16 Nov 2010 North Liberty, Johnson County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Durbin Cemetery, Old Landing, Lee County, USA
Description	:	WWII Veteran US Army ------------------- Coast Artillery - Puerto Rico ** Paul was a Sgt before going to Europe. He volunteered to lose his stripes in order to be an infantry replacement for D-Day losses. ------------------- 7th Armored Division, 38th Armored Infantry England, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Austria ------------------- His Graveside Eulogy: Paul Russell Bonnett was born near Bussey,Iowa to William and Faye King Bonnett. He grew up on a farm along with brothers, Ron & Billy, and sisters, Mary & Emma. Sometimes he helped the neighbors with threshing or picking corn... Read More	WWII Veteran US Army ------------------- Coast Artillery - Puerto Rico ** Paul was a Sgt before going to Europe. He volunteered to lose his stripes in order to be an infantry replacement for D-Day losses. ------------------- 7th Armored Division, 38th Armored Infantry England, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Austria ------------------- His Graveside Eulogy: Paul Russell Bonnett was born near Bussey,Iowa to William and Faye King Bonnett. He grew up on a farm along with brothers, Ron & Billy, and sisters, Mary & Emma. Sometimes he helped the neighbors with threshing or picking corn for a dollar a day. Paul graduated from Bussey High School. He had ambitions of becoming a professional baseball player but The Great Depression and World War II made those dreams impossible. Paul and his brother Ron joined the Civilian Conservation Corps to help his family since $25 of the $30 per month they received was sent home. The Corps built dams and initiated erosion control of farm fields so Iowa wouldn't become another dust bowl state. It was hard physical labor! Paul's comment about it, "It wasn't a bad life. At least we never went hungry!" His sister, Emma, was attending Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She brought her roommate, Virginia Saffell home to Bussey for a weekend visit. Virginia told her daughter that when she met Paul, "It was love at first sight". They married while he was in the service. Paul and friends were playing cards at home in Bussey when the announcement about Pearl Harbor came over the radio. He didn't rush right out and join the military. But when it became obvious he would be drafted, Paul enlisted in the Army. His service included a short time in the Coast Artillery in Puerto Rico where he contracted malaria. Three weeks after D-Day he joined the 7th Armored Division in France as an infantry replacement. In his earlier years Paul spoke only rarely of his army experiences possibly because he had difficulty coping with the horrors of war and wanted to put them behind him. With coaxing by his children, Dennis, Karyl & DeWayne, he gradually opened up. Paul told of crossing the Atlantic Ocean, too afraid of being torpedoed by a submarine, to sleep anywhere but on deck. He had good reason. One of the ships in his flotilla was sunk by a German Uboat when he was shipped to Puerto Rico. The following is an experience Paul shared with his daughter two days before his passing. During the German surprise counteroffensive in Belgium called the Battle of the Bulge, Paul's division, the 7th Armored was surrounded by the elite S.S. 1st & 2nd Panzer Divisions at St. Vith. They were outnumbered 10 to 1 and told to hold this vital crossroads town and railway at all costs to slow the German advance. They held the town for 5 days before the commander radioed there would no longer be a division unless they were evacuated. Paul said that surrender was not an option. He and his comrades had seen the frozen bodies in the snow at Malmedy where American prisoners of war had been massacred by machine gun fire. During the battle at St Vith, the artillery started running low on ammunition. Three men from Paul's squad were asked to volunteer to drive a truck, with no escort, through enemy controlled territory to an ammunition depot. They weren't even sure the depot was still in American hands. Paul volunteered along with two of his buddies. Their only defense was a 50 caliber machine gun mounted behind the cab and their rifles. Paul said they were loading into the truck when a half track arrived , riddled with bullet holes from machine gun fire. It had traveled the same route they planned to take. Paul said it gave them great pause. Said they might as well have painted a giant red target on the side of the truck but by then they had no choice. Off they went, pedal to the metal, as fast as the truck could go, Paul wielding the 50 caliber machine gun. They never saw a German and the Ammo dump was still in American hands. Paul said it was nothing short of a miracle. Paul earned the combat infantryman badge, four battle stars and a bronze star. How fortuitous it was that earlier this year, Honor Flight hosted Paul a trip to Washington DC to see the World War II Memorial. After discharge from the Army, Paul and wife Virginia settled in Cedar Rapids. He worked as an automobile mechanic most of his life. Eventually, he established his own auto and motorcycle repair shop. Hunting, fishing and motorsports were among many hobbies he enjoyed during his lifetime. But up until the day he died, baseball was still his favorite pastime even if all he could do was watch it on television. A bit of his high school dream still lived on. (Eulogy written by his daughter Karyl)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Paul Russell “Slim” Bonnett's memorial?
Paul Russell “Slim” Bonnett's memorial is located at: Durbin Cemetery, Old Landing, Lee County, USA.
When did Paul Russell “Slim” Bonnett death?
Paul Russell “Slim” Bonnett death on 16 Nov 2010 in North Liberty, Johnson County, Iowa, USA

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Virginia Kathleen Saffell Bonnett

(1923 - 1987)

Siblings

Children

Flowers:

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