Paul Huff  was born in Cleveland, Tennessee. He joined the United States Army in 1941.

In 1944, he was serving in the 59th Parachute Infantry Battalion on February 8, 1944, near Carano, Italy, when he received his Medal of Honor citation. It reads:

“​For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, in action on 8 February 1944, near Carano, Italy. Cpl. Huff volunteered to lead a 6-man patrol with the mission of determining the location and strength of an enemy unit which was delivering fire on the exposed right flank of his company. The terrain over which he had to travel consisted of exposed, rolling ground, affording the enemy excellent visibility. As the patrol advanced, its members were subjected to small arms and ​ machine gun​ fire and a concentration of ​ mortar​ fire, shells bursting within 5 to 10 yards of them and bullets striking the ground at their feet. Moving ahead of his patrol, Cpl. Huff drew fire from 3 enemy machine guns and a ​ 20mm​. weapon. Realizing the danger confronting his patrol, he advanced alone under deadly fire through a ​ minefield​ and arrived at a point within 75 yards of the nearest machine gun position. Under direct fire from the rear machine gun, he crawled the remaining 75 yards to the closest emplacement, killed the crew with his ​ submachine gun​ and destroyed the gun. During this act he fired from a kneeling position which drew fire from other positions, enabling him to estimate correctly the strength and location of the enemy. Still under concentrated fire, he returned to his patrol and led his men to safety. As a result of the information he gained, a patrol in strength sent out that afternoon, 1 group under the leadership of Cpl. Huff, succeeded in routing an enemy company of 125 men, killing 27 Germans and capturing 21 others, with a loss of only 3 patrol members. Cpl. Huff's intrepid leadership and daring combat skill reflect the finest traditions of the American infantryman.​”

Paul Huff served in both World War II and the Vietnam War and reached the rank of Command Sergeant, the highest enlisted rank, before leaving the Army.   

He died at age 76 and is buried at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Cleveland, TN. Paul Huff Parkway in Cleveland is named after him. His wife donated many of his military artifacts and pictures to the Museum Center, including his Medal of Honor.

Source: Paul Huff’s Medal of Honor Citation from 1944.