Merlyn Leroy Paulson

Master Sergeant Merlyn Leroy Paulson photo

Vietnam
-
MIA
Fallen

Fargo, ND


County:
Cass

Date of Loss:

Recovered:
Remains recovered

Branch of Service:
Air Force

Rank:
Master Sergeant

Listed on/in the:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Washington D.C.
Register of North Dakota Veterans Vietnam Conflict 1964-1973, published 1981

Circumstances:

Laos, Quang Nam province

Hostile, died while missing, Fixed Wing - Crew
Air Loss, Crash on Land

DPAA: Not listed as remains were recovered in 1986.

Biography:

Master Sergeant Paulson was a member of the 16th Special Operations Squadron, Ubon Airfield, Thailand. He joined the Air Force and on March 29, 1972, he was a member of the crew of a Spectre Attach Aircraft Gunship II (AC-130A) on a night of reconnaissance mission 56 miles east of Savannakhet in southern Laos. The aircraft was shot down by a Russian surface to air missile. His remains were recovered on March 1, 1986, and identified on June 12, 1987. 

Master Sergeant Paulson was born on June 19, 1936. Merlyn Leroy Paulson is buried or memorialized at Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location. He received the Purple Heart and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, DC, name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 02w, Line 122. 

From ND Vietnam War Book: 

PAULSON, MERLYN L. Born Ada, MN 10 Jun 36; Resident Cass County, ND; Entered US Air Force place unk 19 Oct 55; Served in Vietnam; MIA 4 Apr 75 in Vietnam; SSG. 55379