Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

1st Lieutenant

Unit:

325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army (325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division)

Citation:
First Lieutenant Paul S. Kinsey, 325th Glider Infantry, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action on 9 June 1944, near Amfreville, France. In the early morning hours, First Lieutenant Kinsey (then Second Lieutenant) and his company had become engaged at close quarters with an enemy artillery unit supported by infantry. While his platoon was pinned down by flanking automatic weapons fire, First Lieutenant Kinsey, although limping badly from a leg wound, stepped into a road swept by fire, personally halted, and then engaged an enemy truck of reinforcements which was closing in along the road toward his platoon. The assistant driver of the truck opened fire with a submachine gun. First Lieutenant Kinsey, in spite of this fire, moved quickly forward, seized the barrel of the submachine gun, and dropped a grenade into the cab of the truck, setting it on fire and destroying the driver and his assistant. Although knocked back by the explosion, First Lieutenant Kinsey, hearing cries and movement in the rear of the truck, recovered his composure and completed the destruction of the truck and the remainder of its occupants with a rifle grenade. First Lieutenant Kinsey's act kept open a route of maneuver for his platoon and enabled his unit to inflict additional damage on the enemy. In performing this act, First Lieutenant Kinsey exemplified the highest traditions of the service. Entered military service from Ohio.