Chief Warrant Officer 3, Paul Francis Mentzer
October 8, 1929 - September 2, 1979

His father, Frank J. Mentzer, was the 1934-35 American Legion Commander in Manning.

Served with the U.S.Army during WW2, Korea & Vietnam wars.
Enlisted in WWII in 1945 at the age of 16
Enlistment February 24, 1956
Discharge May 31, 1972
Service January 1, 1945 to May 31, 1972

Buried Springfield National Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri

Paul Mentzer Phones Family From Tokyo
Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Mentzer of Manning Friday, September 10, 1948, received a telephone call from their son, T-5 Paul F. Mentzer, stationed in Tokyo, Japan.
"So far as we know here, it is the first call from Tokyo to Manning," Mr. Mentzer said. The Mentzers were informed last Wednesday morning that the call would be received about midnight Friday and were awaiting it.
"The call came through right on the dot" said Mr. Mentzer. "It was very clean and we could hear every word just as plain as if he were in the U.S.
T-5 Mentzer is attached to the 27th Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company, 1st Cavalry Division. He has been in Japan nearly two years and has one more year to serve.
"He was very happy over the call," the father said, "and needless to say, my wife, myself, and daughter, who all talked to him, were very delighted to hear his voice."
Carroll Daily Times Herald September 13, 1948

ON FURLOUGH
Paul Mentzer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mentzer, is on furlough from Camp Carson, Colorado.
Carroll Daily Times Herald June 3, 1949

Manning Monitor article------ 1945

Two From Manning Join Regular Army
Paul Francis Mentzer, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Mentzer, and Donald Dean Petersen, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Petersen, both of Manning, have enlisted in the regular army. They completed their physical examinations and were sworn in at the Iowa-Nebraska recruiting headquarters in Omaha. They have now departed for Fort Lewis, Wash.

Both lads enlisted for three years and have chosen to serve, with the first cavalry division. This is in line with the opportunity now being offered to men enlisting or re-enlisting in the regular army for three years to serve in certain specific units now over- seas.
The first cavalry was the first American division to enter Manila in General MacArthur's liberation campaign and the first American unit to enter the city of Tokyo. The division is presently; on occupation duty in Japan.

Paul Mentzer Paul F. Mentzer, 50, Sunrise Beach, died Sunday in the Fitzsimmons Veterans Hospital, Aurora, Colorado, after a long illness.

Mr. Mentzer was a 27 year Army Veteran.

Survivors include his wife, Betty, a son, Kevin, Hollywood, California; two daughters, Miss Peggy Mentzer, Hollywood, California, and Mrs. Susan Dean, Angola, New York; his father and step-mother Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Mentzer, Eagle Grove, Iowa; a brother, Roger, Clarion, Iowa; two sisters, Mrs. Helen Smith, Omaha, Nebraska; and Mrs. Margaret Heuton, Springfield, Missouri; and three grandchildren.

Greenlawn Battlefield South will announce arrangements.
Springfield News-Leader, Springfield, Missouri September 5, 1979