100 Years Well Lived: WWII Veteran And Twin Eagle Scout From Caldwell Dies

CALDWELL, NJ — Just a little over 100 years ago, Paul Frederick Larsen and his twin brother Peder were born in their Caldwell home — then went on to become among the first pair of twin Eagle Scouts in the country.

Paul Frederick Larsen, a World War II Air Force veteran, died at his Long Island home last month just weeks after celebrating his 100th birthday.

The pair were born on Oct. 27, 1922 in Caldwell to Louis Heckman Larsen and Anna Leek Larsen, an obituary says. They grew up with older brother Richard, then graduated from Grover Cleveland High School.

A 1940 Census record shows the family of five living at 105 Brookside Ave. in Caldwell, near Grover Cleveland Park.

Paul headed to Tusculum College in Greenville, Tenn., but in 1942, he left college to enlist in the Air Force.

Hiroshima And Nagasaki

Brother Peder left college to enlist at the same time, and both "received their wings as pilots at the same time," noted the obituary. "The Air Force then separated the twins for the first time in their lives, sending Paul to the Pacific and Peder to Europe."

In the South Pacific, Paul Served with the 6th Emergency Rescue Squadron of the Army Air Corps. "One of his last flights was to take press photographers up and over Hiroshima and Nagasaki to photograph the devastation," noted the obit.

Paul was discharged in 1946 and graduated from college, then joined the family insurance firm of P. Larsen & Sons in Montclair He also expanded the business to include real estate sales.

In 1955, he married Doris Clegg, who passed away five years ago at 96. (Brother Peder had predeceased them both in 2005, at 81.)

Paul and Doris raised their three daughters in Upper Montclair. Years earlier, his family had bought property on Shelter Island, N.Y., where they liked to vacation, and it was there that Paul passed away last month.

Paul is survived by daughters Alice (of Montclair), Linda, and Suzan, several grandchildren, and a niece and nephew.

A service will be held on the Island, but burial will be in Caldwell. Donations in his memory may be made to the Shelter Island Ambulance Foundation, PO Box 547, Shelter Island NY 11964.

Find out more in his obituary in the Shelter Island Reporter here.