From the January 20, 2017, Naples (Fla.) Daily News "Pearl Harbor survivor Paul Smith of Collier County dies at 95."
Marine Corporal Paul Smith was at Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal and other action in the Pacific Theater. He got out of the service after the war, but reenlisted for 22 more years, serving in the Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force.
He was born June 18, 1921, in Bluefield, West Virginia. At age 17, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, but his mother had to sign for him.
On the attack, he said, "We never dreamed such a thing would happen." He threw his breakfast, half a grapefruit and spoon at a low flying plane and ran to his barracks to get his gun.
--GreGen
My Cooter's History Blog has become about 80% World War II anyway, so I figured to start a blog specific to it, especially since we're commemorating its 70th anniversary and we are quickly losing this "Greatest Generation." The quote is taken from Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Curre, who was on the USS Tennessee that day. He died Dec. 7, 2011, seventy years to the day. His photo is below at right.
Monday, March 13, 2017
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