Born: January 22, 1921
Died: February 20, 1976
Campaigns Served: None with First Battalion
Highest Rank Attained: Private First Class
Decorations:
Purple Heart
Paul Bajor was born in 1921. His parents, both Polish immigrants, anglicized their last name to the more American-sounding Bayer. Paul was raised by his grandparents, Jakob and Walerya (or Valeria) Bajor, and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1942.
PFC Bayer was one of the original members of the Battalion Headquarters company. His role with the company is unknown; he transferred to Camp Pendleton's staff on December 20, 1944. Bayer eventually wound up in another one of the Fourth Division's combat units, seeing action on Saipan and Iwo Jima and earning a Purple Heart.
Bayer returned to Connecticut after the war, and married Helen Ryzak. He died in 1978, and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Middletown.