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Born and raised in Indiana,
Paul entered West Point in June of 1907 with a
Bachelor of Science already to his credit. Upon
graduation in 1911 he was commissioned as a 2nd
lieutenant and awarded degrees of B.A. and A.B.
Then began the commissioned service of nearly
40 years.
The new lieutenant joined the 11th Infantry at
Fort D. A. Russel in Wyoming.
To Texas City with the regiment on Border Patrol
until August 1914. Then to the 8th Infantry in
the Philippines for 3 years and then to the 54th
Infantry at Chickamaugua, Park, Georgia. As a
new major, he sailed for France with the advance
party of the 81st Division and was quickly in
action.
With the 322nd Infantry in the occupancy of the
St. Die Sector, the Vosges and on to Verdun. He
fought as a Lieutenant Colonel in the bitter actions
east of the Somedian Sector and in the Meuse Argonne.
After returning home with his regiment in June
1919 he spent four years at various schools, four
years in the office of the Chief of Infantry,
Graduated from the Army War College, four years
duty at the USMA then two years with the 29th
Infantry at Fort Benning. After several more assignments
he received his first star in July 1941. July
1942 he was Assistant Commander of the 35th Division
Guarding the southern California coast.
A major general in July 1943 and in command of
the division, he moved it from San Luis Obispo
to Camp Rucker, Alabama and in November '43, through
the Tennessee maneuvers and then to Camp Butner,
N.C. until May '44.
The division landed on Omaha Beach on July 8th,
'44 to join the  Battle
of Normandy under the XIX Corps, First Army.
General Baade led the division in almost constant
combat for 11 months and 1600 miles, through St.
Lo, the Vire River, Mortain, Orleans, Montargis,
Troy, Nancy, Sareguemines, the Bleis river, Bastogne,
the lower Vosges, the Roer River, Venlo, Wesel,
the Ruhr, and on to the Elbe river. This included
five countries, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, The
Netherlands and Germany.
On occupation duty in Hanover and Recklenhausen
and the Coblenz area until July 1945, when control
was relinquished to the French.
The division came home in September
1945, and demobilized at Camp Breckenridge, N.C.
The General continued to serve until his retirement,
disability in the line of duty, 30th September
1946. Among the numerous decorations he received
were the Distinguished Service Medal, two Silver
Stars, The Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars,
and Purple Heart. From France he received the
honors of Officer of the Legion of Honor and the
Croix de Guerre and from the Netherlands, Grand
Officer Orange van Nassau.
He retired to his home in Santa Barbara, California
with his wife Margaret. The general was active
in civic and church activities until his death
on the 9th October, 1959.
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