Paul was the son of Paul D. Courtney, Sr., of Los Angeles, California and Martha Blatchford Ewing of Beaver, Pennsylvania.

After completing his training on Christmas Eve, 1943, he was commissioned a Marine Corps Pilot, flying Corsair fighter planes. One week prior to his scheduled departure for South Pacific duty, he was killed in an accident during maneuvers over San Diego, California. He was killed on his 25th birthday.