Paul B. Huff
Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Command Sergeant Major Paul Bert Huff (23 June 1918 - 21 September 1994) was a U.S. Army soldier and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during World War II.

Paul B. Huff was born on 23 June 1918 in Cleveland, TN; he also joined the Army from that city in June 1941. On 8 February 1944, he was serving as a Corporal in the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion. Near Carano, Italy, that day, Huff led a reconnaissance patrol while under heavy fire from German forces. For his actions during the patrol, Huff was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion.

Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 8 February 1944.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, in action on 8 February 1944, near Carano, Italy. Cpl. Huff volunteered to lead a 6-man patrol with the mission of determining the location and strength of an enemy unit which was delivering fire on the exposed right flank of his company. The terrain over which he had to travel consisted of exposed, rolling ground, affording the enemy excellent visibility. As the patrol advanced, its members were subjected to small arms and machinegun fire and a concentration of mortar fire, shells bursting within 5 to 10 yards of them and bullets striking the ground at their feet. Moving ahead of his patrol, Cpl. Huff drew fire from 3 enemy machineguns and a 20mm. weapon. Realizing the danger confronting his patrol, he advanced alone under deadly fire through a minefield and arrived at a point within 75 yards of the nearest machinegun position. Under direct fire from the rear machinegun, he crawled the remaining 75 yards to the closest emplacement, killed the crew with his submachine gun and destroyed the gun. During this act he fired from a kneeling position which drew fire from other positions, enabling him to estimate correctly the strength and location of the enemy. Still under concentrated fire, he returned to his patrol and led his men to safety. As a result of the information he gained, a patrol in strength sent out that afternoon, 1 group under the leadership of Cpl. Huff, succeeded in routing an enemy company of 125 men, killing 27 Germans and capturing 21 others, with a loss of only 3 patrol members. Cpl. Huff's intrepid leadership and daring combat skill reflect the finest traditions of the American infantryman.

Honors

Sgt. Paul Huff Parkway, a major thoroughfare in Cleveland, TN, is named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Command Sergeant Major Paul B. Huff died on 21 September 1994 at age 76. He is buried at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in his hometown of Cleveland, TN.

He was survived by his wife, Betty Cunningham Huff.