Capt. Kristin

Shay Paulson

Capt. Kristin Shay Paulson, 26, died July 10, 2005, from a fall, while hiking in the Franklin Mountains in El Paso, Texas.

Born Kristin Cheryl Shay on July 5, 1979, in Anchorage, to Dodd and Gwynne Shay, she spent the first five years of her childhood on her parents' homestead at Onion Bay, Raspberry Island. She was home-schooled and developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors.

While a student at Kodiak High School, she participated in cross-country, band, ballet, and dance team, graduating with honors in 1997.

Capt. Paulson graduated summa cum laude from Pacific Lutheran University in 2002.

She was a member of the varsity rowing crew and the Army ROTC program. She met her future husband at PLU and they married in Montana, Aug. 9, 2003.

Capt. Paulson arrived at Bravo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery in 2003, where she served as a platoon leader.

In 2004, she assumed duties as the executive officer of Echo Battery.

Col. Jimmy Jenkins described Capt. Paulson's service as "stellar."

She earned the Army Commendation and Army Achievement medals.

Capt. Paulson had been approved for promotion to captain; the rank was awarded posthumously.

A memorial was placed on Coleman Trail in Franklin Mountains State Park and a street on Fort Bliss will be named in her honor.

Her loved ones wrote, "Kristin was an exceptionally warm, loving, and generous person. She had a contagious zest for life. The word 'can't' was not in her vocabulary."

Capt. Paulson is survived by her husband, Spc. Brian Paulson, of Colorado; father, Dodd Shay; mother, Gwynne Shay; stepmother, Carole Gerard Shay; brothers, Carl Shay and Dylan Shay, all of Alaska; paternal grandparents; esteemed friends, Barbara, Charles, Erica and Christina Thompson; spiritual sisters, 1st Lt. Maria Salcido and 1st Lt. Leslie San Jose; her comrades at 3-2 Air Defense Artillery, and numerous friends.

Capt. Paulson was preceded in death by her sister, Robin.

The funeral service took place July 21 in Kodiak.