More detail on this person: Dean R. Paquette,
80, died Monday, January 17, 2011 at First Health
Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst. A memorial
service will be held 2:00 pm Saturday, January 29,
2011 at Boles Funeral Home in Pinehurst, NC.
Dean R. Paquette was born in Detroit, Michigan,
July 15, 1930. He spent his first 16 years in
Ferndale, Michigan. He enlisted in the Army at
age 16 in 1946. He served with the Corps of
Engineers in assignments in the Southeast US and
Greenland. He attained the rank of Technical
Sergeant and was 1st Sergeant in the 809th
Engineer Battalion. He attended the Engineer
Officer Candidate School in 1951 and graduated in
May 1952. Following graduation he married Emma
Shirley Jones in July 1952 in Alexandria, VA.
Col. Paquette served overseas in Korea, Indonesia,
Viet Nam and Australia. He was a Combat
Engineer Company Commander in Korea, an
advisor to the Indonesian Army, a Battalion
Commander in the 1st Cavalry Division in Viet Nam
and was the senior US Army officer in Australia.
He attended the Engineer Advanced Course, the
Command and General Staff Course, Fixed and
Rotary Wing Flying Courses and the National War
College. He held a Bachelors Degree from the
University of Maryland and a Masters Degree from
George Washington University.
Col. Paquette had various command and staff
assignments including three assignments to the
Pentagon on the Army General Staff. He retired
from the Army in 1976 and went to work for Control
Data Corporation in the Washington Office. He
retired from Control Data in 1991 and moved to
Pinewild in Pinehurst, NC in 1992. He was active
in the Daedalions, the Quiet Birdmen, Association
of the US Army, the Army Engineer Association,
and the VFW and was a past member of the
Pinewild Property Association Board.
His awards and decorations include three awards of
the Legion of Merit, The Distinguished Flying
Cross, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service
Medal, and The Air Medal with 8 oak leaf clusters
and various other commendations and service
medals. He is a member of the Corps of Engineers
Hall of Fame and was designated as a
distinguished member of the Corps of Engineers by
the Chief of Engineers.
He is survived by his wife Emma of Pinehurst, two
daughters, Neta of Louisburg, NC, and Diane of
Greenville, NC, his son Kingsley and five
grandchildren, Hunter, Lauren, Domonic, Hayden,
Chloe and his Brother James of Foley, AL, and
Sister, Ann Shriner of Royal Oak, Michigan.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded
Warrior Project, 7020 AC Skinner Pkwy, Ste. 100,
Jacksonville, FL 32256.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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