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Paul Saunders

Paul Golden (Swish) Saunders (January 12, 1918 – August 8, 2003) was a highly decorated United States Navy submarine sailor who was twice awarded the Silver Star medal during World War II.

Paul Golden Saunders
Paul G. Saunders, August 1945
Nickname(s)Swish
Born(1918-01-12)January 12, 1918
Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
DiedAugust 8, 2003(2003-08-08) (aged 85)
Dunnellon, Florida, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1936–1962
RankChief Petty Officer
UnitUSS Barb (SS-220)
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsSilver Star (2)
Bronze Star Medal

Naval career edit

Saunders enlisted in the Navy in 1936 and served for 26 years before retiring as GMGC(SS) (Chief Gunners Mate Guns, Submarine Service) in 1962. Prior to submarines, Chief Saunders served on the light cruiser USS Raleigh (CL-7) and on destroyers McCook (DD-252) and Sampson (DD-394).

Saunders qualified in submarines aboard R-4 (SS-81) in 1940 and subsequently served in Barb (SS-220), Cusk (SS-348), Carbonero (SS-337), and Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600).

The only landing of US military forces on the island of Japan during hostilities included Saunders. The landing party destroyed a 16-car train on the coastal railway with an explosive charge, using a microswitch under the rails to trigger the explosion.

He was one of the most decorated enlisted men in the Submarine Service, distinguishing himself during World War II while serving on board the Barb. Saunders made all twelve of Barb’s war patrols, five in the Atlantic and seven in the Pacific and was chief of the boat (COB) for patrols #9–12. He was also COB for the submarines Cusk, Carbonero and Theodore Roosevelt.

He was featured in the book Thunder Below by his USS Barb skipper, Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey.

Awards edit

During his career, Saunders was awarded the following:

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 

Post naval career edit

Post World War II found Saunders working in the development of the launching systems for KGW-1 Loon, which was an adaptation of the US Army's JB-2 Doodle Bug, Regulus, and Polaris missiles.

Saunders was a member of Submarine Veterans of World War II and also a member of United States Submarine Veterans, Inc., Nautilus Base.

External links edit

  • USS Barb (SS-220), 1942–1954
  • Photo of Paul Saunders at Naval Historical Center
  • United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. Eternal Patrol List
  • Paul Saunders at Sharkhunters International

paul, saunders, paul, golden, swish, saunders, january, 1918, august, 2003, highly, decorated, united, states, navy, submarine, sailor, twice, awarded, silver, star, medal, during, world, paul, golden, saunderspaul, saunders, august, 1945nickname, swishborn, 1. Paul Golden Swish Saunders January 12 1918 August 8 2003 was a highly decorated United States Navy submarine sailor who was twice awarded the Silver Star medal during World War II Paul Golden SaundersPaul G Saunders August 1945Nickname s SwishBorn 1918 01 12 January 12 1918Richmond Virginia U S DiedAugust 8 2003 2003 08 08 aged 85 Dunnellon Florida U S AllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branchUnited States NavyYears of service1936 1962RankChief Petty OfficerUnitUSS Barb SS 220 Battles warsWorld War IIAwardsSilver Star 2 Bronze Star Medal Contents 1 Naval career 2 Awards 3 Post naval career 4 External linksNaval career editSaunders enlisted in the Navy in 1936 and served for 26 years before retiring as GMGC SS Chief Gunners Mate Guns Submarine Service in 1962 Prior to submarines Chief Saunders served on the light cruiser USS Raleigh CL 7 and on destroyers McCook DD 252 and Sampson DD 394 Saunders qualified in submarines aboard R 4 SS 81 in 1940 and subsequently served in Barb SS 220 Cusk SS 348 Carbonero SS 337 and Theodore Roosevelt SSBN 600 The only landing of US military forces on the island of Japan during hostilities included Saunders The landing party destroyed a 16 car train on the coastal railway with an explosive charge using a microswitch under the rails to trigger the explosion He was one of the most decorated enlisted men in the Submarine Service distinguishing himself during World War II while serving on board the Barb Saunders made all twelve of Barb s war patrols five in the Atlantic and seven in the Pacific and was chief of the boat COB for patrols 9 12 He was also COB for the submarines Cusk Carbonero and Theodore Roosevelt He was featured in the book Thunder Below by his USS Barb skipper Admiral Eugene B Fluckey Awards editDuring his career Saunders was awarded the following Submarine Qualification pin Submarine Combat pin Silver Star with gold star in lieu of second award Bronze Star Medal with Combat V Letter of Commendation with Ribbon later converted to the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V Presidential Unit Citation with three bronze stars in lieu of additional awards Navy Unit Commendation Navy Good Conduct Medal with silver service star American Defense Service Medal with A Device American Campaign Medal European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze service star Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver and two bronze service stars World War II Victory Medal National Defense Service Medal Philippine Liberation Ribbon nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Post naval career editPost World War II found Saunders working in the development of the launching systems for KGW 1 Loon which was an adaptation of the US Army s JB 2 Doodle Bug Regulus and Polaris missiles Saunders was a member of Submarine Veterans of World War II and also a member of United States Submarine Veterans Inc Nautilus Base External links editUSS Barb SS 220 1942 1954 Photo of Paul Saunders at Naval Historical Center United States Submarine Veterans Inc Eternal Patrol List Paul Saunders at Sharkhunters International Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Saunders amp oldid 1206135541, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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