Paul Wilkins Kendall was born in Baldwin City, Kansas in 1898. Kendall attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1918 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. From 1918 to 1919 Kendall attended the Infantry School of Arms at Fort Benning, Georgia. Kendal was assigned to the 27th Infantry Unit after graduating and was sent to Russia during the Siberian Intervention where he received the Distinguished Service Cross in 1920. Kendal went on to several different postings in the 1920s and 1930s in the U.S. and abroad. Kendall graduated from the Command & General Staff College in 1936 and in the 1940's served in a staff assignment at the Office of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army at Washington, D.C. At the start of World War II Kendall was assigned as Chief of Staff for the 85th Infantry Division. He then served as Assistant Division Commander of the 84th Infantry Division, receiving promotion to Brigadier General.

From September 1944 to July 1945 Kendall was commander of the "Blue Devils" of the 88th Infantry Division, receiving promotion to Major General. The division's second World War II commander, he led the 88th Infantry during its assault through Italy, including the capture of Vicenza and Verona. During the Korean War Kendall commanded I Corps and was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1952. Kendall continued to serve in the military as Deputy Commanding General in Manila, Philippines and in 1954 as Commander of the Allied Land Forces Southeastern Europe in Izmir, Turkey. Kendall retired from the military in 1955 and moved to Palo Alto, California where he died in 1983.