Hard working stubborn patriotic and generous. Describe some of the attributes of Paul. Others are spiritual quiet observant and consistent. He loves 57 chevys and Harley's. At 12 years old he swapped motors out of one car into another. Using an old apple tree branch as support for the engine hoist. His names sake grandfather coaching as he went. Buying his first Snap On tool at 13 years of age he now has a Snap on tool franchise and over 500,000 dollars in tool inventory and 300 mechanics he services almost every week. He has built several 57 chevies and has had 4 Harley's. One of which he crashed last week surviving with 2 broken toes 3 cracked ribs a puncture wound under the left knee and his left heel road rashed pretty badly.
He was a troubled teen and moved out the house the day after high school graduation to live on his own. working at various shops he perfected his ability to repair cars. Then rather than be drafted with no choice of were to serve he enlisted in the Navy. The SeaBees or Construction Battalion of the Navy. He went to Vietnam and fixed vehicles from jeeps to bull dozers in combat areas. On Halloween of 1970 he was shot at while in a guard tower on the perimeter of his base. He spent the night on his belly avoiding fire. Another time a sniper had him pinned in tall grass for over eight hours until it was dark and he could move to a safer position.
Some South Korean troops came in to Pauls base with their jeeps to be repaired with scalps and the enemies ears displayed. Paul said they were the scariest soldiers over there.
After serving in Vietnam he came home and then went on a mission to Germany for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Old Nazis would tell him they fought and suffered miserably in war and that there was no God. Paul would respond and tell them he too was in the misery of war and knew there was.
He met his wife there and they were married in the US in November of 1976. They have 4 wonderful kids, Mark, Vanessa, Nik and Stephan.
Paul is a workaholic, his son Nik said it best when he said, "pops, if you could work in your sleep you would". I came to understand that his Vietnam experience caused him to relish the time to live and work. So many of his comrades died young and didn't have the chance to work and live. He honors them by living his life to the fullest, using every waking hour trying to be productive. His family has paid a price because of this. His kids and wife didn't see him much during their childhood. But he was there when it counted and always provided all the nice things in life for them.
Now at 58 years of age he hasn't slowed down a bit. After his cycle crash he was released that evening and went back to work after just one day off. He repaired some shelves in his truck that day. He's an old soldier. Someone who will not quit no matter how difficult the challenge and as a brother, a tremendous example who is very hard to live up to.
