COL LAIRD, PAUL G. to TAPs

Trieste, Italy
Col. Paul G. Laird, USA Retired, 88, of Trieste, Italy, died Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2005, in Mon Valley Hospital. A son of the late Andrew and Edith Stemberg Laird, he was born in Brownsville on Oct. 26, 1917. Col. Laird attended Douglas Business School and later graduated from the University of Maryland. His military career, spanning some 35 years from 1935 to 1970, included General Staff in the Pentagon, various U.S. and NATO commands in Europe and administration in Vietnam. He was Comptroller AMG to handle the final stages of the Marshal Plan Fund in Trieste, Italy. His decorations and awards included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Award. Paul always had the notion that each of us owes a service to our country and he tried to serve to the best of his ability and honorably. Survivors include his wife of over 40 years, Paola Laird; one son and daughter-in-law, Paul G. II and Joanne Laird, of Falls Church, Va.; two grandsons, Glenn and Greg Laird; a brother-in-law, Shelby D. Ferguson; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 3 sisters, Ruth A. Ferguson, Bernadean Vance and Vivian Jesick.