Ronald L Paulsen

Vancouver, Washington

October 17, 2006

 Killed in Tarmiya, Iraq,when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

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October 30, 2006

Staff Sgt. Ronald L. Paulsen was born on May 13, 1953, in Portland, Ore. He was a trained civil affairs sergeant assigned to the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion, Utica, N.Y.
He died in Tarmiya, Iraq, when his patrol encountered a roadside bomb Oct. 17, 2006, while deployed to combat supporting the Global War on Terrorism.
A resident of Vancouver, Wash., Paulsen entered the Army National Guard through the Army Delayed Entry Program in Portland, Jan. 19, 1977, just five years after he earned his GED from Portland State University. 
Upon completion from advanced individual training as a material storage and handling specialist in 1982 at Fort Lee, Va., Paulsen’s first active-duty assignment was with the 2nd Infantry Division, Korea. For two years, Paulsen served in Korea and was then reassigned to the 539th Maintenance Company, Fort Polk, La. He was promoted to sergeant shortly thereafter and served as an assistant supply sergeant. 
In 1985, Paulsen was reassigned to the 586th Maintenance Company, Germany, where he served for three years as a material storage and handling supervisor as well as a platoon sergeant. He earned his promotion to staff sergeant in 1986.
In the summer of 1988, Paulsen was assigned for two years to the 3rd Armor Cavalry Regiment, Fort Bliss, Texas, where he served in several positions such as a range and ammunition non-commissioned officer, material storage and handling supervisor and a Class Eight supply yard non-commissioned officer. 
Paulsen completed a six-month tour in support of the Persian Gulf War between 1990 and 1991, and then he returned to Germany to serve with the 1st Armored Division. In 1992, he entered into the Voluntary Early Transition Program and was assigned to the Inactive Ready Reserve until called to active duty in the fall of 2005 to support the Global War on Terrorism. 
Paulsen’s military training include Basic Combat Training, Field Communications Electronic Equipment Repairman Course, Supplyman’s Course, Unit Supply Specialist Primary Technical Course, Small Arms Maintenance Course, Material Storage and Handling Specialist Course, Prescribed Load List Procedures Course, General Supply and Accountability Course, Watercraft Engineer Course, Hazardous Cargo Instructor Course, Wheeled Accident Avoidance Course, Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Non-commissioned Officer’s Course, Advanced Non-commissioned Officer’s Course, Army Precommission Course, Equal Opportunity Representative Course, U.S. Army Europe Headstart Orientation Program, Headstart Command Language Program (German) and the Civil Affairs Specialist Course.

His military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, three Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze service stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with numeral three, Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, Iraq Campaign Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, the Driver and Mechanics Badge with “W” device, the Operator’s Badge with “S” bar, Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge and the German Armed Forces Marksmanship Badge, Bronze. 
In his civilian career, Paulsen worked as a warehouse loadman for a railcar and barge manufacturer. He also enjoyed fishing and relaxing with his family on the Paulsen family boat.
Paulsen is survived by his wife, Beverly, of Vancouver, Wash. He is also survived by his brothers, Jerry and Christopher, of Deer Island and Fairview, Ore. 
-By Sword, Deed and Word-