The eldest of three brothers, Paul Anthony Roberts experienced loss early in life. His mother died in childbirth with Paul’s young­est brother, and the child passed away before his third year. Paul’s father worked for the rail­road and during the Depression had placed the boys in an orphanage, where Paul and Don started school. Subsequently, his aunt and uncle brought the two surviving Roberts boys to their home in Nevada to continue their schooling.

As a young teen, Paul worked one summer on his uncle’s ranch. He was not yet a skillful driver, and, while driving the old ranch pick­up, Paul lost control and flipped the truck into a fast-flowing drainage ditch. He miraculously escaped from the truck and the ditch, becom­ing somewhat of a family celebrity. He still had to pay for the truck with his summer wages, thus, learning about responsible action early.

Paul and Don had normal sibling rivalries, but Paul, who was more assertive, was shocked when he learned he would not continue school with Don. Instead, Paul had been enrolled at Brown Military Academy in San Diego on a music scholarship. Ultimately, Paul enjoyed his experience at Brown, especially playing trumpet in their renowned marching band. A highlight was marching with the band during the 1955 Disneyland opening festivities. Paul completed high school at Brown, and a year at San Diego State prior to securing an appointment to West Point, as had been his Aunt Eunice’s intention.

In 1956, the last year company assignments were made by height, Paul joined Company I-1. Despite his familiarity with military life­style, Paul’s Plebe year was not easy. I-1 was es­pecially tough; woe unto “Flankers” and “Lost Plebes” from the 2d Regiment who strayed into old South Area! One classmate recalled that during a parade, Paul stoically endured an accidental bayonet stab upon “Present Arms.” Paul barely twitched, already demonstrating great determination and resolve! At West Point, Paul was a fine student and athlete, graduating 115th of the 551 cadets in the Class of 1960. Upon graduation, he chose Armor Branch.

In June 1960, Paul married Judy Randall at West Point’s Catholic Chapel. After attending the shortened Armor Officers Basic Course, Paul and Judy went to Ft. Benning, GA, for Airborne School. His first Army assignment was a three-year tour with the 3rd Squadron, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, on the East-West German border, performing continuous border surveillance operations. Despite frequent separations while stationed there, Paul and Judy were blessed with the birth of Steven in 1962 and Amy in 1963.

Following additional coursework, Paul was selected as aide to MG Charles Chase ’33 at HQ Allied Forces Central Europe (1964–65), in part due to his prior study of the French lan­guage. He also commanded HQ troops when France quit NATO, ordering NATO forces out of Fontainebleau. Paul moved his soldiers to Holland amidst prevailing confusion. Later, he volunteered for duty in Viet Nam, briefly at­tending the language school at Ft. Bliss to study Vietnamese. From 1968–69, he served as an ad­visor to a Vietnamese battalion in the Delta, ex­periencing the historic Tet Offensive. However, Viet Nam changed him. Outwardly unscathed, Paul had inner turmoil, eventually deciding to close his Army career. Paul’s final assignment was the USACDC Armor Agency at Ft. Knox. For his Army service, Paul was awarded two Bronze Stars, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

In 1969, just prior to leaving the Army, daughter Katie was born at Ft. Knox. The transition from the Amy to civilian life was stressful for Paul and his family, as were the lingering memories of Viet Nam. The new, unfamiliar duties of commercial construction added to the turmoil, and in 1972, his mar­riage to Judy ended.

Paul was an active, inquisitive, and gregari­ous person, at times regaling with tall tales and hefty philosophical discussions with friends and his Gibson cousins. He also liked to push the envelope athletically, participating in rock climbing, skiing, and snorkeling—all done with tremendous gusto. His interests were varied, and included custom knife making, which was self-taught. He made and collected knives, his skill becoming well-honed. Those who received gifts of his cutlery cherish them in his memory. He was also renowned for his cooking, although early on some of “Chef” Paul’s creations were less appreciated (Red and Black Chicken—black outside, red inside!).

In 1978, Paul met Lilli Fil at a ski club gath­ering in Minneapolis when they both signed up for a cross-country ski outing. As they became acquainted, they made many more outings together, both cross-country and downhill. In April 1980, they were married.

That summer, they left the Midwest to move west, settling in southern California. For the next 11 years they enjoyed hiking, camping, swimming, snorkeling, and travel­ing. Paul rekindled friendships with Brown and USMA classmates, and attended class re­unions at West Point. In 1992, Paul and Lilli moved to Phoenix to be closer to his three chil­dren. While in Phoenix, Paul became active in the local West Point Society and acquainted with Vietnamese Army and Air Force veter­ans. This association rekindled Paul’s interest in Viet Nam, setting plans in motion to visit Viet Nam in the fall of 1998, accompanied by two Vietnamese couples.

Paul’s entire family was devastated to learn of his unexpected, tragic death near San Diego. While snorkeling in coastal waters, Paul drowned, pulled into a cavern during especially rough seas. Paul’s family and friends remember him with great respect and love. His colleagues from Brown, USMA, commercial construc­tion, and commercial real estate admired him and his great sense of duty.

At Paul’s funeral, his children spoke of the impact Paul had on their lives, in their youth and as young adults. Regretfully, his first grandchild, who was born to Katie, arrived after his death. Amy, his second child, wrote a poem for the grandchild yet to be born, wel­coming him in her father’s name and describ­ing his joyful anticipation.

Paul’s life mission was to test himself in as many ways possible, loving the challenges!

Well done, Paul.

His family, assisted by Bill Drollinger