Brigadier General Paul E. Godfrey, Principal of University High School in the Los Angeles Unified Schools District, was promoted to his present rank, 1 July 1972.
Born on 2 Dec 1922 in Santa Montica, California, he graduated from Venice High School in 1940, and holds BS and MS degrees from the University of Southern California, 1949 and 1955, respectively.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve, 6 August 1942, and saw combat as an enlisted man on Bougainville, the Northern Solmon Island, and Guam prior to attending Officer Training at Quantico, Virginia, in September 1944. Upon completion of training, he was commissioned a second lieutenant on 28 Mar 1945, and was reassigned to the Pacific area for duty with the 4th Marine Division on Maui.
In November 1945, he returned to the U.S. and joined Guard Battalion, MCRD, San Diego, California, where he was released to inactive duty on 3 January 1946. From January 1946 until January 1951, he was attached to the 11th Marine Corps Reserve and Recruitment District.
On 26 January 1951, he returned to active duty and upon completion of the 1st Special Junior Course, Marine Corps Education Center, Quantico the following June, he joined the 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Brigade, FMF, and served as platoon commander and later, as company executive officer.
Since his release from active duty on 3 May 1952, he has been attached to the 11th Marine Corps Reserve and Recruitment District; the 13th Rifle Company, USMCR; the 12th Marine Corps Reserve and Recruitment District (now the 12th Marine Corps District); and with the 12th Staff Group (Ground). From Nov 1962 until Nov 1967, he served as Battalion Commander and Commanding Officer of the 2d Battalion, 23d Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, FMF, USMCR, Santa Monica. In Feb 1968, he joined Volunteer Training Unit 12-65. He is currently serving as Deputy Director of Procurement.
He was promoted as follows: First Lieutenant, 28 March 1948; Captain, 25 June 1952; Major, 1 July 1955; Lieutenant Colonel, 1 July 1962; and Colonel, 1 November 1967.
His medals and decorations include the Navy Unit Commendation, the Organized Marine Corps Reserve Medal with one star, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
General Godfrey will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on 5 January 2007.
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard