One size doesn’t fit all. For example, some real-life giants are short. As far as I’m concerned, Paul Kerchum was one of them. He admits standing on his tip toes to sneak past the minimum height requirement for enlisting in the U.S. Army. However, after getting the chance as a young man, he rose above everything he faced in his life of more than 102 years. And that is not some throwaway line, because the man faced far more than his fair share of challenging conditions.
Paul grew up during The Great Depression. He was a smart boy and young man despite not graduating from high school. It was a time in history when one didn’t need a formal education to learn survival was the most important subject. To do so, he roamed the streets in Western Pennsylvania trying to earn whatever money he could for his family. At 18, he and a friend targeted the U.S. Navy for their escape from poverty. Yet because they didn’t have a degree, they were shot down by the Navy and sent to join the U.S. Army instead.
Paul Kerchum U.S. Army Service
His first enlistment sent him to E Company 27th Infantry Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. When his 2 years overseas finished, Paul reenlisted. This time he joined B Company, 31st Infantry. He was stationed in Manila, Philippines in September, 1940.
Paul was a World War II Veteran who fought with the U.S. Army and the outmanned, outgunned Allied Filipino troops. The enemy was the Japanese who were fighting to gain control of the part of the Asia which had eluded them. The Japanese forces were fierce and relentless in the Battle of Bataan. They took the upper hand so much that U.S. Army Major General Edward P. King officially surrendered to Japanese General Masaharu Homma. On that date of April 9, 1942 some roughly 63,000 Filipinos and about 12,000 Americans became prisoners of war. Paul Kerchum was one of them.
Bataan Death March
He was one of the lucky ones who survived the barbaric 65-mile Bataan Death March ordered by the Japanese. Many of the POWs had already lost a great deal of their body weight by this time. This was because Japan’s naval blockade cut off supplies to the Allied forces. They were left to fight and try to hold on as long as they could. General MacArthur was supposed to lead the saving the day efforts. However, that did not happen until 1945.
Paul survived the march by literally putting one foot in front of the other no matter what happened around him. He then hung on in the deplorable POW camps of the Japanese. It was 3 long years which felt like 3 lifetimes until he and the others were liberated.
Paul Kerchum U.S. Air Force
Having made it through hell in Bataan, Paul Kerchum re-enlisted after 8 years in the U.S. Army. This time he joined was the new U.S. Air Force. He had a long and distinguished career of 21 years there. In 1966, he retired at the grade of Chief Master Sergeant. His awards and decorations included:
Purple Heart
2 Bronze Stars
POW Medal
American Defense Medal
Philippines Defense Medal
Asiatic Pacific Medal with 2 battle stars
2 U.S. Presidential Unit Citations
1 Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
1 Korea Unit Presidential Unit Citation
Paul and his wife Gloria were married for 74 years until she passed. He credits Gloria for keeping him alive despite alcoholism and PTSD. She even helped him to forgive the Japanese. There is no more powerful proof of this than Paul serving in Japan during the Korean War. The Kerchums had two children. Paul was also blessed with grandchildren. Paul Kerchum lived an extraordinary life of 102 years. The air field in his home of Benson, Arizona is named in his honor.
Enjoy Episode 8 of the Binge with Baldrick podcast as host Thomas Baldrick shares personal stories of Paul Kerchum. He also includes an interview the two did at Paul’s home in Southern Arizona.