Paul served in the Army Air Corps with the 13th Air Force, 42nd Bombardment Group, 75th Bomb Squadron during World War II. Paul was assigned to the 42nd Bombardment group, who flew B-25 and B-26 Medium Bombers. The 42nd provided anti-submarine patrol duty over the west coast of the United States until it was transferred to New Caledonia in April of 1943. Many members of the 42nd were trained at the U.S. Navy's Torpedo School in San Diego, CA becuase the group needed to be loaded with torpedoes for their anti-submarine patrols. They wore the Navy Torpedoman's Mate rate insignia for their pay grades.