while crossing the saar river, he was severely wounded february 10, 1945, by a mortar shell that blew up near him; shrapnel broke his left leg, ripped into his stomach, and seriously injured two fingers on his right hand. the soldier next to him died from his wounds and paul credited that soldier for saving his life. recent research has discovered the soldier's name to be pfc milton c smithers of huntingdon, new jersey. paul was evacuated to the 137th united states army general hospital in england where he was placed in traction. while in the hospital a sergeant reading "stars and stripes" asked him how he spelled his name, and then told him he had received the medal of honor. later, on may 29, 1945, brigadier general egmont f. koenig with a band entered the ward to present him with his medal.