When Paul Edward Wickenhofer was born on September 7, 1917, in Harrison, West Virginia, his father, John, was 26 and his mother, Dolly, was 36. He married Belva Wray McCartney on December 13, 1937, in his hometown. They had two children during their marriage. He enlisted in the Army on April 21, 1944. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a Private First Class in the 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He was awarded the silver star for actions on 23 March 45 when he used rocket fire to disable a tank that had his group pinned down, saving many lives. A few days later he was mortally wounded. He died on March 26, 1945 and is now buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia, USA.