Career
Bolden joined the Army from Madison, Alabama in October 1942, and by December 23, 1944, was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company I, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. On that day, at Petit-Coo, Belgium, he and Technical Sergeant Russell North. Snoad advanced on a German-held house. While his comrade provided covering fire from across the street, Bolden tossed grenades through a window, rushed to the door, and began firing.
Wounded by the greatly superior number of German soldiers inside, he retreated from the house.
Realizing that the Germans would not surrender, he returned to the house despite his serious wounds and killed the remaining soldiers. Bolden reached the rank of Master Sergeant before leaving the Army.
He died at age 56 and was buried in Moon Cemetery, Owens Cross Roads, Alabama. An 18-mile stretch of Alabama State Route 53, from Research Park Boulevard in Huntsville to just south of Ardmore, is designated as the "Paul Luther Bolden Memorial Highway" in his honor.
