Paul R. Davidson

Colonel (Ret.) Paul R. Davidson

Colonel (Retired) Paul R. Davidson graduated from East Tennessee State University and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the U.S. Army Infantry in 1961. After completion of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division of Schofield Barracks, HI. He served as a rifle platoon leader, weapons platoon leader and company executive officer.  During this assignment he was deployed to Khorat, Thailand including a temporary duty in Vietnam, 1962.  With the expiration of his two-year detail as an Infantry Officer, he was assigned to Ft DeRussy, HI as Commander, Armed Forces Exam and Entrance Station. 

His other significant duties early in his career included the 3rd US Army and US Army Forces Command at Ft McPherson, GA.  In 1969 he moved to Brussels, Belgium where he served as the Executive Officer for the US Military Assistance and Advisory Group for Belgium and Luxembourg, assigned to the US Embassy.

Colonel (Retired) Davidson served two full tours in Vietnam, the first being from 1966-1967. During his first tour in Vietnam, he recognized a dire and emergent need to provide personal items, necessary for proper health and sanitation, to members of the advisory teams that were located in central Vietnam known as the Iron Triangle. In cooperation with his Senior Advisor, his official UH-1 volunteered on weekends as an “Airborne PX service.”

His second tour closed the Vietnam War.  He served as Director of Personnel, Adjutant General’s Office, of the US Military Assistance Command-Vietnam.  He was directly responsible for achieving the incremental reductions in end strength as directed by the President.  At the conclusion of the war, remained in-country with the US Delegation to the Four Party Joint Military Commission to insure the cease-fire and evacuation of POW’s.

Other notable assignments include service as the Senior Military Assistant to the J-5, Plans and Policy with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Headquarters Army General Staff at the Pentagon. After two years, he became Deputy Director of General Officer Management.  Other prominent assignments were Adjutant General, US Army Aviation Center, Ft Rucker, AL, and Deputy Commander, 8th Personnel Command, Yongsan, South Korea.

His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Force Medal, Army Services Ribbon, Oversea Service Ribbon, JCS ID Badge, HW Army General Staff ID Badge, Vietnam Honor Medal 1st Class, and Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

Colonel (Retired) Davidson was Lay Leader, Worship Leader, Sunday School teacher, Bible Study leader and a member of many committees and work groups for over 20 years.  He was a member of the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs at several locations.  Upon retirement from the Army he was the Director, Human Resources for the Piedmont Region, South Carolina Department of Mental Retardation. 

Upon returning to East Tennessee, he served as Director of Employee Relations and Employment Activities at the Johnson City Medical Center and became a member of the Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church where he led the Capital Funds Campaign in raising over $350,000 to build a Community Ministry Center.  He was also a member of the Sulphur Springs Community Center and was instrumental in the establishment of the Northeast Tennessee Community Help Center.