Army Sgt. Paul J. Atim

Died April 17, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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27, of Green Bay, Wis.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died of wounds suffered April 16 in Ahmid-Khan, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Spc. Charles J. Wren and Pfc. Joel A. Ramirez.

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Drum spc. killed by Nimroz blast

By Paul Srubas

Green Bay (Wis.) Press-Gazette

GREEN BAY, Wis. — A Green Bay man was killed April 16 in Afghanistan by a bomb, the Defense Department announced.

Spc. Paul J. Atim, 27, was in his second deployment to Afghanistan when he and two other men were killed in Nimroz province. The solders were with the 1st Batallion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

They all deployed last month.

Atim leaves behind a child and is survived by his mother, according to the Defense Department.

A native of Uganda, Atim attended the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay for two semesters, in the fall of 2005 and spring of 2006.

“Paul came to the United States from Uganda in pursuit of a better life, and shortly afterward joined the military to serve the country he loved,” said Brent Blahnik, director of international education at the school. “I think I speak for the entire university community in extending condolences to his family and friends.”

Blahnik said he remembers Atim as being outgoing and having a good sense of humor.

In 2006, Atim married Sara Wall of Allouez, and they had one child; they divorced in 2007.

Atim joined the Army in November 2006. He completed training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and was assigned to Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Bragg, N.C. He transferred to Fort Drum, N.Y., in December 2010.

He had been deployed to Afghanistan from April 2009 to April 2010.

His awards and decorations include two Army Achievement medals, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon. He also completed the army’s Warrior Leadership and Combat Life Savers courses.