PVT Paul E. Donley was born is Tuscola, IL on Oct. 17, 1921, to Oral and George Donley. He was the second oldest in a family of 5 brothers and sisters. His Mother died when he was 4 years old. His 1st stepmother died when he was about 8 years old. He would have a 3rd stepmother when he was killed. Life wasn't easy for the family. Like many in those days, he had to quit school and work at an early age. He worked a lot of different jobs before he was drafted. He worked as a farmhand, at a broomcorn factory, and on the pipeline when he was drafted.

I've been told that he was a hard worker, a good friend, and had a funny sense of humor. He liked to take things apart to see how they worked, but always seemed to have parts left over. He loved cars. He kept them spotless and drove them very fast.

He married Leone F. Hudson of Camargo, IL on November 1, 1941. He was the father of Dolores "Kay" Donley, born January 25, 1943 and Paul E. Donley, Jr., born March 27, 1944.

He went into the service just after his 22nd birthday in October, 1943. He was killed on August 16, 1944 in LeCoudrey, France, near Tinchebray. The story that I have been told is that there hadn't been any fighting in his area for a couple of days. He had gone to town and met his younger brother who was a Ranger. He was coming back into camp late and was killed by an unseasoned sentinel at the guard post. He was killed by a shot to the head. We will probably never know the whole story because his records were burned in the fire of 1973 at the St. Louis National Archives. He may have forgotten the password, the password may have changed while he was away from camp, or the guard just may not have heard him, as he was very soft spoken.

He was buried in a temporary military cemetery at Marigny, France until he was returned to Tuscola, IL on September 15, 1948.