World War II Honoree

Paul L. Blair

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Louisville, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE AND APPRENTICE SEAMAN ON MAY 17, 1944 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BOOT CAMP AND BASIC ENGINE TRAINING AT NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS; DIESEL SCHOOL AT NAVAL TRAINING SCHOOL, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA; SUBMARINE SCHOOL (INCLUDING DIESEL AND HYDRAULIC TRAINING) AT SUBMARINE BASE, NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT AND FURTHER TRAINING AT MANITOWOC SHIPBUILDING COMPANY, MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN. ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED ABOARD THE BALAO CLASS SUBMARINE USS MENHADEN SS-377 IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. EARNED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A FIREMAN FIRST CLASS ON JANUARY 26, 1946 AT THE NAVAL PERSONNEL SEPARATION CENTER, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS.