Paul Wenceslaus Pena

West Point, 2004

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jason C. Murray on February 12, 2010:

I am privileged to have had (then 2LT) CPT Paul Pena as the first commissioned officer to have served under my command. From May 2005 to August 2005 I was the acting commander of the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry (Airborne) at Fort Richardson, Alaska (until the true Battalion Commander, LTC Buckingham, arrived later that summer). The battalion was just standing up as part of the 4th Brigade (Airborne) 25th Infantry Division and was not officially activated until October 2005. Paul was the second commissioned officer to arrive at 3-509 PIR after myself. When Paul arrived, the unit had around 250 junior-enlisted Soldiers, maybe a dozen NCOs, and no officers other than Paul and myself. I immediately assigned Paul as the acting company commander of Able Company 3-509 PIR and the acting Battalion Executive Officer (which he held until the arrival of the Battalion FSO about a month later). Commanding a company is a privilege and an awesome responsibility as well as a demanding test of leadership under the best of conditions. Able 3-509 PIR had almost no NCOs, no equipment, no offices or computers, no phone, etc. Despite these constraints, Paul led his Company with skill, determination, and a calm confidence that reassured his Soldiers that they could place their trust in Paul's leadership. Ultimately Paul served as the Able Company Executive Officer, Assistant Battalion S-3, and most notably as a platoon leader in Dog Company 3-509 PIR in Iraq from October 2006 to November 2007. It is notable that his company secured a battalion sized area of operations from December 2006 to June 2007 near Iskandariya, Iraq while the majority of the Battalion was reassigned to the Anbar province. Paul was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his 14 months of superior service during Operation Iraqi Freedom 06/07. Paul's unit was also awarded the Valorous Unit Award for thier contributions during the surge. I will always remember Paul as a caring leader with a huge dip tucked into his bottom lip and a reassuring smile on his face. Paul, You will never be forgotten. Rest in peace Brother.

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