He was a Vietnam War Era casualty on March 13, 1966. He served with honor in the United States Air Force and remembered by the people of West Virginia.  May his positive example inspire us, as American citizens.

Origins:
Marshall Irvin Pauley was born on October 17, 1941. He was from Milton, West Virginia

Service:
He had enlisted in the United States Air Force. Entered the service via Regular Military. Served during the Vietnam War. Pauley had the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. His military occupation or specialty was Aerial Gunner. Service number assignment was 234683382. Attached to 4th Air Commando Squadron, Da Nang Airbase.

Casualty
During his service in the Vietnam War, Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Pauley was reported missing and ultimately declared dead on March 13, 1966. Recorded circumstances attributed to: Died while missing in action, air crash on land, body not recovered. Incident location: Laos.

Details:
Sgt Marshall Irvin “Shorty” Pauley was a member of the 4th Air Commando Squadron, Da Nang Airbase, South Vietnam.

On March 13, 1966, he was on the crew as Aerial Gunner of a Chinook Spooky Attack Aircraft Gunship I (AC-47D) #BU-4349268 on a night armed reconnaissance mission over a portion of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos.

Their aircraft made radio contact with a ground station shortly before entering Laotian airspace but was not seen or heard from again. Search and rescue efforts in the following days failed to locate the crash site or any crew members. They were declared Missing in Action, remains not recovered.

Remembered
Marshall Irvin Pauley is buried or memorialized at Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location.

Marshall is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 06e, Line 5.

Commendations:
★ Air Medal
★ Purple Heart
★ National Defense Service Medal
★ Vietnam Campaign Medal
★ Vietnam Service Medal
★ Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
★ Vietnam Gallantry Cross
★ Air Force Good Conduct Medal