Foster, Paul Frederick, VADM

Paul Frederick Foster (March 25, 1889 – January 30, 1972) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of vice admiral. A graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, he distinguished himself during the Battle of Veracruz in April 1914 and received Medal of Honor, the United States of America's highest and most-prestigious personal military decoration.

During World War I, Foster commanded submarine L-2 and is credited with the sinking of German SM UB-65 in July 1918, for which he received Navy Distinguished Service Medal. He remained in the Navy following the war and received Navy Cross for valor during the explosion of turret gun of light cruiser Trenton in October 1924. Foster resigned from active duty in 1929, but was recalled to active service during World War II, serving as Assistant Inspector General of the Navy until 1946.

Foster then served as General Manager for International Activities, Atomic Energy Commission until February 1959, when he was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as a Permanent U.S. Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria.

Medal of Honor
Awarded for Actions During Dominican Republic Occupation
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Utah
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 177 (December 4, 1915)
Citation: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Ensign Paul Frederick Foster, United States Navy, for distinguished conduct in battle attached to the U.S.S. UTAH during the engagements of Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21 and 22 April 1914. In both days' fighting at the head of his company, Ensign Foster was eminent and conspicuous in his conduct, leading his men with skill and courage.