Marine died directing members of his company to safety after accident

Marine killed directing traffic

August 11, 2011 1:13 AM
HOPE HODGE
A funeral was held Wednesday for a decorated Marine killed in a tragic traffic collision in Onslow County this weekend.

Sgt. Paul Michael Mauser, 24, of Beulaville, was laid to rest in Jacksonville’s Coastal Carolina State Veteran’s Cemetery Wednesday afternoon. According to Highway Patrol officials and friends, the Marine was struck by a 2006 Chevy SUV before dawn Friday, after he got out of a military vehicle on N.C. 210 to direct members of his company to safely enter the gated Lima 5 range for training. Mauser was airlifted to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, but did not survive the injuries he sustained.

More than 100 vehicles were in the funeral processional for Mauser, who had deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan, leading the battalion JUMP platoon during combat operations in the Afghan town of Marjah during his most recent deployment. Standing five feet four inches, he earned the nickname “Mighty Mouse” for his diminutive size and fearlessness as he commanded the point vehicle protecting the commanding officer of his unit, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines.

Colleagues of Mauser expressed dismay that a Marine who had survived his vehicle twice being hit by roadside bombs had lost his life in a chance accident.

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