Doc Paddleford

"Doc" Paddleford

Rest in Peace

Joe Babb (68-69)

HQ Battalion Surgeon

"Fred “Doc” Paddleford was one of my medics during my 68-69 tour as Battalion Surgeon. He was a fine person, wonderful human being, and a tragic loss. He was with "C" Battery at Bastogne the night of the attack. As it turns out, Eagle Dustoff was next to HQ/HQ Battery in Gia Le and I sometimes flew with them on difficult pickups. They called me that night and I recall loading Doc on the helicopter but failed to recognize him as he’d been hit in the head by shrapnel and the wound heavily dressed by one of the 101^st medics. Only realized later the next morning who it was. By then he’d been airlifted out to the hospital ship Hope. I flew out there to talk with his Doc. Things were very bad and he died later that day. I have visited Fred at the Wall on my visits to D.C."

Howard Sanger (68-69)
HQ Battery

"If Paddleford was the medic that was badly hurt in the attack, and later died, then I can definitely state, the attack was at FSB Bastogne. I believe I have photos -- somewhere -- of FSB Bastogne the day after the attack, as I was sent out there to take reports of what was lost, and to reimburse guys for things they lost (got destroyed) in the attack.

I also visited the Battery CO who was wounded. Captain _____ ... I can't recall his name. My recollection is that he was a good guy. Visiting Captain _____ in the hospital was a sobering experience. Seeing him bandaged up -- a contemporary; a guy that I knew -- made me realize that none of us was indestructible. Prior to visiting Captain ______ in the hospital, I was certain that I was made of steel, and nothing bad could happen to me."

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