Paul Bernard Malone was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army with the rank of major general. Following his graduation from the United States Military Academy (USMA), he participated in the Spanish–American and Philippine–American Wars and commanded an infantry brigade in the last year of the World War I. Malone reached the rank of brigadier general during that conflict and distinguished himself during the Battle of Soissons.

The Battle of Soissons (1918) was fought on the Western Front during World War I. Waged from 18 to 22 July 1918 between the French and the German armies, the battle was part of the much larger Allied Aisne-Marne counter-offensive. It followed the final German Spring Offensive, Operation Marneschutz-Reims. The primary objective of the attack was to cut both the Soissons – Château-Thierry road and the railroad running south from Soissons to Château-Thierry. As these were the main supply routes for the German forces in the Marne salient, cutting them would severely impair the Germans' ability to supply its armies defending it. This would force them to retreat and give up their gains. This battle marked the turning point of the war as the Germans would be on the defensive for the remainder of the conflict.