Paul Edd Saylor was born on 20 February 1920 in Bluff City, Sullivan County, Tennessee. He moved around with his family to Unicoi and Carter counties and to Mitchell County, North Carolina where his father was born before settling down in Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee.
He enlisted in the United States Navy at Nashville, Tennessee on 3 July 1940 with service number 2956907. Paul was sent to the United States Navy Training School on the Naval Ordnance Base at Norfolk, Virginia for basic training. After boot camp, he was dispatched to San Pedro Naval Base, California to join his ship the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) a Nevada-class Battleship. Paul first made a stop in Johnson City to visit friends and family to show off his new uniform.
Paul signed aboard the USS Oklahoma on 9 October 1940 as an Apprentice Seaman for further training and evaluations. The Oklahoma weighed anchor and departed back for Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii on 14 October. Paul was promoted to Seaman Second Class on 3 November while returning back to San Pedro. He completed his evaluations and received a rating change to Fireman Third Class on 16 December.
In early February 1941 the Oklahoma arrived Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington to have anti-aircraft (AA) guns and armor added to her superstructure. Paul was promoted to Fireman Second Class on 1 July. On 22 August, while returning back to San Pedro, she was caught in a severe storm where she lost one sailor when he was washed overboard and received some damage. The next morning, they discovered she had a broken starboard propeller shaft that forced the ship to halt. After assessing the damage to it and other parts of the ship, she was informed to sail for San Francisco, California, the closest navy yard with an adequate dry-dock. She remained in dry-dock, undergoing repairs until mid-October. The Oklahoma then returned to Pearl Harbor. During this time, a hard charger that was recognized by his superiors, Paul had increased his knowledge of all the ship functions and his leadership skills as a Fireman. He was rewarded with a promotion to Fireman First Class.
Once they arrived back to Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma was assigned to patrols and exercises. Paul was also training new seamen in the duties of a fireman when the Oklahoma received orders to proceed to Ford Island.
On Sunday, 7 December 1941, when the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma was moored at Ford Island in berth Fox 5, on Battleship Row, in the outboard position alongside the battleship USS Maryland. She was immediately targeted by planes from the Imperial Japanese Navy's aircraft carriers Akagi and Kaga, and was struck by three torpedoes. The first and second hit seconds apart at 0756 (7:56 am), striking her amidships (midway between bow and stern) below the waterline between the smokestack and the mainmast. The torpedoes blew away a large section of her anti-torpedo bulge and spilled oil from the adjacent fuel bunkers, but neither penetrated the hull. Around 80 men scrambled to man the AA guns on deck, but were unable to use them because the firing locks were still in the armory. Most of the men manned battle stations below the ship's waterline or sought shelter in the third deck as was protocol for an aerial attack. The third torpedo struck at 0800 (8am), near Frame 65, hitting close to where the first two did, this time penetrating the hull. It destroyed the adjacent fuel bunkers on the second platform deck and ruptured access trunks to the two forward boiler rooms. It also damaged the transverse bulkhead to the aft boiler room and the longitudinal bulkhead of the two forward firing rooms causing her to flood and to list to port.
As she began to capsize, two more torpedoes struck her. Her seamen were also being strafed by Japanese aircraft as they were trying to abandon the ship. In less than twelve minutes, she rolled over until halted when her masts touched bottom, her starboard side above water with part of her keel exposed. It's believed the ship absorbed as many as eight hits in all. Many of her crew were jumping from the decks 50 feet into the oil covered burning hot water, however, many remained in the fight, crawling across mooring lines to the Maryland to help man her AA guns. Many others were trapped within the capsized hull to include Paul. Efforts to rescue them began within minutes of the ship capsizing and continued well into the night. Julio DeCastro, a Hawaiian civilian yard worker, organized a team that saved 32 Oklahoma sailors. This was a tricky operation as cutting open the hull released trapped air, raising the water levels around entombed men, while cutting in the wrong place could also ignite stored fuel. Even with this Herculean effort some who may have survived the attack were never reached in time. After three days and when no more knocking could be heard from inside the Oklahoma, rescue efforts were ceased and recovery efforts began. This would take until 16 June 1943 when the Oklahoma was righted and at that time most of the remains were removed.
In all, 429 men were listed as missing in action/unknowns since their remains could not be identified and interred in two cemeteries (Nu'uanu and Halawa) on Oahu near Honolulu in 1945 & 46. Paul was listed as Missing in Action on 30 December 1941 at the age of 21. His name is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial and in the Oklahoma Memorial, both in Hawaii.
In September 1947, they were disinterred, reexamined and 35 were identified. The estimated remaining 388-394 were reinterred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, commonly known as the Punch Bowl at 46 sites (graves) in 61 caskets and basically forgotten. In 2015, all were again disinterred to have dental records reexamined and DNA tests conducted on all the bones.
Fireman First Class Paul Edd Saylor was finally accounted for on Tuesday, 24 November 2020 by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time of his death, Paul was survived by his parents, Reverend Samuel "Saul" Brown Saylor, and Mary L. Shaver and two brothers, Arthur M. and George Washington Saylor. George served in the United States Army during World War II.
Paul was laid to rest with his parents in Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee at the Happy Valley Memorial Park in the Laurels Section, Plot 23A, Grave 4 at 1200 hours (12pm/noon) on Friday, 20 August 2021. Paul, Welcome Home our young sailor and may you finally Rest in Peace. A rosette was added to his name at the Honolulu Memorial indicting that he has been accounted for and is no longer missing.
Paul's many letters home have been preserved over the last 80 years by family members. They reveal much about his character and work ethic. He loved his family and was proud of his accomplishments and promotions with the Navy. Early on he admitted that occasions of gambling and drinking did not sit well with him and said he was giving up cards and drinking. He learned that he was eligible for promotion every 3 months if he studied hard and passed the tests. One motivation was the pay increases as he was diligently sending money home. The country was still in the grip of the Great Depression and his contribution made a difference in the lives of those he left behind. Had he survived, his eagerness to succeed, his demonstrated self-discipline and his desire to learn would have surely propelled him forward into a successful life and career.
Note: Another one of those missing was Father Aloysius Schmitt the first American chaplain of any faith to die in World War II. As for the USS Oklahoma (BB-37), in 16 June 1943, she was righted and salvaged after the last remains were removed. Unlike most of the other battleships that were recovered following Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma was too damaged to return to duty. Her wreck was eventually stripped of her remaining armaments and decommissioned on 1 September 1944 before being sold for scrap in 1946. The hulk sank in a storm on 17 May 1947 in the Pacific Ocean, while being towed from Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, to a breakers yard in San Francisco Bay, California.
Special Thanks to Paul's niece Susan for the edit and for adding that personal touch.
He enlisted in the United States Navy at Nashville, Tennessee on 3 July 1940 with service number 2956907. Paul was sent to the United States Navy Training School on the Naval Ordnance Base at Norfolk, Virginia for basic training. After boot camp, he was dispatched to San Pedro Naval Base, California to join his ship the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) a Nevada-class Battleship. Paul first made a stop in Johnson City to visit friends and family to show off his new uniform.
Paul signed aboard the USS Oklahoma on 9 October 1940 as an Apprentice Seaman for further training and evaluations. The Oklahoma weighed anchor and departed back for Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii on 14 October. Paul was promoted to Seaman Second Class on 3 November while returning back to San Pedro. He completed his evaluations and received a rating change to Fireman Third Class on 16 December.
In early February 1941 the Oklahoma arrived Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington to have anti-aircraft (AA) guns and armor added to her superstructure. Paul was promoted to Fireman Second Class on 1 July. On 22 August, while returning back to San Pedro, she was caught in a severe storm where she lost one sailor when he was washed overboard and received some damage. The next morning, they discovered she had a broken starboard propeller shaft that forced the ship to halt. After assessing the damage to it and other parts of the ship, she was informed to sail for San Francisco, California, the closest navy yard with an adequate dry-dock. She remained in dry-dock, undergoing repairs until mid-October. The Oklahoma then returned to Pearl Harbor. During this time, a hard charger that was recognized by his superiors, Paul had increased his knowledge of all the ship functions and his leadership skills as a Fireman. He was rewarded with a promotion to Fireman First Class.
Once they arrived back to Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma was assigned to patrols and exercises. Paul was also training new seamen in the duties of a fireman when the Oklahoma received orders to proceed to Ford Island.
On Sunday, 7 December 1941, when the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma was moored at Ford Island in berth Fox 5, on Battleship Row, in the outboard position alongside the battleship USS Maryland. She was immediately targeted by planes from the Imperial Japanese Navy's aircraft carriers Akagi and Kaga, and was struck by three torpedoes. The first and second hit seconds apart at 0756 (7:56 am), striking her amidships (midway between bow and stern) below the waterline between the smokestack and the mainmast. The torpedoes blew away a large section of her anti-torpedo bulge and spilled oil from the adjacent fuel bunkers, but neither penetrated the hull. Around 80 men scrambled to man the AA guns on deck, but were unable to use them because the firing locks were still in the armory. Most of the men manned battle stations below the ship's waterline or sought shelter in the third deck as was protocol for an aerial attack. The third torpedo struck at 0800 (8am), near Frame 65, hitting close to where the first two did, this time penetrating the hull. It destroyed the adjacent fuel bunkers on the second platform deck and ruptured access trunks to the two forward boiler rooms. It also damaged the transverse bulkhead to the aft boiler room and the longitudinal bulkhead of the two forward firing rooms causing her to flood and to list to port.
As she began to capsize, two more torpedoes struck her. Her seamen were also being strafed by Japanese aircraft as they were trying to abandon the ship. In less than twelve minutes, she rolled over until halted when her masts touched bottom, her starboard side above water with part of her keel exposed. It's believed the ship absorbed as many as eight hits in all. Many of her crew were jumping from the decks 50 feet into the oil covered burning hot water, however, many remained in the fight, crawling across mooring lines to the Maryland to help man her AA guns. Many others were trapped within the capsized hull to include Paul. Efforts to rescue them began within minutes of the ship capsizing and continued well into the night. Julio DeCastro, a Hawaiian civilian yard worker, organized a team that saved 32 Oklahoma sailors. This was a tricky operation as cutting open the hull released trapped air, raising the water levels around entombed men, while cutting in the wrong place could also ignite stored fuel. Even with this Herculean effort some who may have survived the attack were never reached in time. After three days and when no more knocking could be heard from inside the Oklahoma, rescue efforts were ceased and recovery efforts began. This would take until 16 June 1943 when the Oklahoma was righted and at that time most of the remains were removed.
In all, 429 men were listed as missing in action/unknowns since their remains could not be identified and interred in two cemeteries (Nu'uanu and Halawa) on Oahu near Honolulu in 1945 & 46. Paul was listed as Missing in Action on 30 December 1941 at the age of 21. His name is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial and in the Oklahoma Memorial, both in Hawaii.
In September 1947, they were disinterred, reexamined and 35 were identified. The estimated remaining 388-394 were reinterred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, commonly known as the Punch Bowl at 46 sites (graves) in 61 caskets and basically forgotten. In 2015, all were again disinterred to have dental records reexamined and DNA tests conducted on all the bones.
Fireman First Class Paul Edd Saylor was finally accounted for on Tuesday, 24 November 2020 by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time of his death, Paul was survived by his parents, Reverend Samuel "Saul" Brown Saylor, and Mary L. Shaver and two brothers, Arthur M. and George Washington Saylor. George served in the United States Army during World War II.
Paul was laid to rest with his parents in Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee at the Happy Valley Memorial Park in the Laurels Section, Plot 23A, Grave 4 at 1200 hours (12pm/noon) on Friday, 20 August 2021. Paul, Welcome Home our young sailor and may you finally Rest in Peace. A rosette was added to his name at the Honolulu Memorial indicting that he has been accounted for and is no longer missing.
Paul's many letters home have been preserved over the last 80 years by family members. They reveal much about his character and work ethic. He loved his family and was proud of his accomplishments and promotions with the Navy. Early on he admitted that occasions of gambling and drinking did not sit well with him and said he was giving up cards and drinking. He learned that he was eligible for promotion every 3 months if he studied hard and passed the tests. One motivation was the pay increases as he was diligently sending money home. The country was still in the grip of the Great Depression and his contribution made a difference in the lives of those he left behind. Had he survived, his eagerness to succeed, his demonstrated self-discipline and his desire to learn would have surely propelled him forward into a successful life and career.
Note: Another one of those missing was Father Aloysius Schmitt the first American chaplain of any faith to die in World War II. As for the USS Oklahoma (BB-37), in 16 June 1943, she was righted and salvaged after the last remains were removed. Unlike most of the other battleships that were recovered following Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma was too damaged to return to duty. Her wreck was eventually stripped of her remaining armaments and decommissioned on 1 September 1944 before being sold for scrap in 1946. The hulk sank in a storm on 17 May 1947 in the Pacific Ocean, while being towed from Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, to a breakers yard in San Francisco Bay, California.
Special Thanks to Paul's niece Susan for the edit and for adding that personal touch.
Paul Edd Saylor was born on 20 February 1920 in Bluff City, Sullivan County, Tennessee. He moved around with his family to Unicoi and Carter counties and to Mitchell County, North Carolina where his father was born before settling down in Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee.
He enlisted in the United States Navy at Nashville, Tennessee on 3 July 1940 with service number 2956907. Paul was sent to the United States Navy Training School on the Naval Ordnance Base at Norfolk, Virginia for basic training. After boot camp, he was dispatched to San Pedro Naval Base, California to join his ship the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) a Nevada-class Battleship. Paul first made a stop in Johnson City to visit friends and family to show off his new uniform.
Paul signed aboard the USS Oklahoma on 9 October 1940 as an Apprentice Seaman for further training and evaluations. The Oklahoma weighed anchor and departed back for Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii on 14 October. Paul was promoted to Seaman Second Class on 3 November while returning back to San Pedro. He completed his evaluations and received a rating change to Fireman Third Class on 16 December.
In early February 1941 the Oklahoma arrived Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington to have anti-aircraft (AA) guns and armor added to her superstructure. Paul was promoted to Fireman Second Class on 1 July. On 22 August, while returning back to San Pedro, she was caught in a severe storm where she lost one sailor when he was washed overboard and received some damage. The next morning, they discovered she had a broken starboard propeller shaft that forced the ship to halt. After assessing the damage to it and other parts of the ship, she was informed to sail for San Francisco, California, the closest navy yard with an adequate dry-dock. She remained in dry-dock, undergoing repairs until mid-October. The Oklahoma then returned to Pearl Harbor. During this time, a hard charger that was recognized by his superiors, Paul had increased his knowledge of all the ship functions and his leadership skills as a Fireman. He was rewarded with a promotion to Fireman First Class.
Once they arrived back to Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma was assigned to patrols and exercises. Paul was also training new seamen in the duties of a fireman when the Oklahoma received orders to proceed to Ford Island.
On Sunday, 7 December 1941, when the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma was moored at Ford Island in berth Fox 5, on Battleship Row, in the outboard position alongside the battleship USS Maryland. She was immediately targeted by planes from the Imperial Japanese Navy's aircraft carriers Akagi and Kaga, and was struck by three torpedoes. The first and second hit seconds apart at 0756 (7:56 am), striking her amidships (midway between bow and stern) below the waterline between the smokestack and the mainmast. The torpedoes blew away a large section of her anti-torpedo bulge and spilled oil from the adjacent fuel bunkers, but neither penetrated the hull. Around 80 men scrambled to man the AA guns on deck, but were unable to use them because the firing locks were still in the armory. Most of the men manned battle stations below the ship's waterline or sought shelter in the third deck as was protocol for an aerial attack. The third torpedo struck at 0800 (8am), near Frame 65, hitting close to where the first two did, this time penetrating the hull. It destroyed the adjacent fuel bunkers on the second platform deck and ruptured access trunks to the two forward boiler rooms. It also damaged the transverse bulkhead to the aft boiler room and the longitudinal bulkhead of the two forward firing rooms causing her to flood and to list to port.
As she began to capsize, two more torpedoes struck her. Her seamen were also being strafed by Japanese aircraft as they were trying to abandon the ship. In less than twelve minutes, she rolled over until halted when her masts touched bottom, her starboard side above water with part of her keel exposed. It's believed the ship absorbed as many as eight hits in all. Many of her crew were jumping from the decks 50 feet into the oil covered burning hot water, however, many remained in the fight, crawling across mooring lines to the Maryland to help man her AA guns. Many others were trapped within the capsized hull to include Paul. Efforts to rescue them began within minutes of the ship capsizing and continued well into the night. Julio DeCastro, a Hawaiian civilian yard worker, organized a team that saved 32 Oklahoma sailors. This was a tricky operation as cutting open the hull released trapped air, raising the water levels around entombed men, while cutting in the wrong place could also ignite stored fuel. Even with this Herculean effort some who may have survived the attack were never reached in time. After three days and when no more knocking could be heard from inside the Oklahoma, rescue efforts were ceased and recovery efforts began. This would take until 16 June 1943 when the Oklahoma was righted and at that time most of the remains were removed.
In all, 429 men were listed as missing in action/unknowns since their remains could not be identified and interred in two cemeteries (Nu'uanu and Halawa) on Oahu near Honolulu in 1945 & 46. Paul was listed as Missing in Action on 30 December 1941 at the age of 21. His name is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial and in the Oklahoma Memorial, both in Hawaii.
In September 1947, they were disinterred, reexamined and 35 were identified. The estimated remaining 388-394 were reinterred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, commonly known as the Punch Bowl at 46 sites (graves) in 61 caskets and basically forgotten. In 2015, all were again disinterred to have dental records reexamined and DNA tests conducted on all the bones.
Fireman First Class Paul Edd Saylor was finally accounted for on Tuesday, 24 November 2020 by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time of his death, Paul was survived by his parents, Reverend Samuel "Saul" Brown Saylor, and Mary L. Shaver and two brothers, Arthur M. and George Washington Saylor. George served in the United States Army during World War II.
Paul was laid to rest with his parents in Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee at the Happy Valley Memorial Park in the Laurels Section, Plot 23A, Grave 4 at 1200 hours (12pm/noon) on Friday, 20 August 2021. Paul, Welcome Home our young sailor and may you finally Rest in Peace. A rosette was added to his name at the Honolulu Memorial indicting that he has been accounted for and is no longer missing.
Paul's many letters home have been preserved over the last 80 years by family members. They reveal much about his character and work ethic. He loved his family and was proud of his accomplishments and promotions with the Navy. Early on he admitted that occasions of gambling and drinking did not sit well with him and said he was giving up cards and drinking. He learned that he was eligible for promotion every 3 months if he studied hard and passed the tests. One motivation was the pay increases as he was diligently sending money home. The country was still in the grip of the Great Depression and his contribution made a difference in the lives of those he left behind. Had he survived, his eagerness to succeed, his demonstrated self-discipline and his desire to learn would have surely propelled him forward into a successful life and career.
Note: Another one of those missing was Father Aloysius Schmitt the first American chaplain of any faith to die in World War II. As for the USS Oklahoma (BB-37), in 16 June 1943, she was righted and salvaged after the last remains were removed. Unlike most of the other battleships that were recovered following Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma was too damaged to return to duty. Her wreck was eventually stripped of her remaining armaments and decommissioned on 1 September 1944 before being sold for scrap in 1946. The hulk sank in a storm on 17 May 1947 in the Pacific Ocean, while being towed from Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, to a breakers yard in San Francisco Bay, California.
Special Thanks to Paul's niece Susan for the edit and for adding that personal touch.
He enlisted in the United States Navy at Nashville, Tennessee on 3 July 1940 with service number 2956907. Paul was sent to the United States Navy Training School on the Naval Ordnance Base at Norfolk, Virginia for basic training. After boot camp, he was dispatched to San Pedro Naval Base, California to join his ship the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) a Nevada-class Battleship. Paul first made a stop in Johnson City to visit friends and family to show off his new uniform.
Paul signed aboard the USS Oklahoma on 9 October 1940 as an Apprentice Seaman for further training and evaluations. The Oklahoma weighed anchor and departed back for Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii on 14 October. Paul was promoted to Seaman Second Class on 3 November while returning back to San Pedro. He completed his evaluations and received a rating change to Fireman Third Class on 16 December.
In early February 1941 the Oklahoma arrived Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington to have anti-aircraft (AA) guns and armor added to her superstructure. Paul was promoted to Fireman Second Class on 1 July. On 22 August, while returning back to San Pedro, she was caught in a severe storm where she lost one sailor when he was washed overboard and received some damage. The next morning, they discovered she had a broken starboard propeller shaft that forced the ship to halt. After assessing the damage to it and other parts of the ship, she was informed to sail for San Francisco, California, the closest navy yard with an adequate dry-dock. She remained in dry-dock, undergoing repairs until mid-October. The Oklahoma then returned to Pearl Harbor. During this time, a hard charger that was recognized by his superiors, Paul had increased his knowledge of all the ship functions and his leadership skills as a Fireman. He was rewarded with a promotion to Fireman First Class.
Once they arrived back to Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma was assigned to patrols and exercises. Paul was also training new seamen in the duties of a fireman when the Oklahoma received orders to proceed to Ford Island.
On Sunday, 7 December 1941, when the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma was moored at Ford Island in berth Fox 5, on Battleship Row, in the outboard position alongside the battleship USS Maryland. She was immediately targeted by planes from the Imperial Japanese Navy's aircraft carriers Akagi and Kaga, and was struck by three torpedoes. The first and second hit seconds apart at 0756 (7:56 am), striking her amidships (midway between bow and stern) below the waterline between the smokestack and the mainmast. The torpedoes blew away a large section of her anti-torpedo bulge and spilled oil from the adjacent fuel bunkers, but neither penetrated the hull. Around 80 men scrambled to man the AA guns on deck, but were unable to use them because the firing locks were still in the armory. Most of the men manned battle stations below the ship's waterline or sought shelter in the third deck as was protocol for an aerial attack. The third torpedo struck at 0800 (8am), near Frame 65, hitting close to where the first two did, this time penetrating the hull. It destroyed the adjacent fuel bunkers on the second platform deck and ruptured access trunks to the two forward boiler rooms. It also damaged the transverse bulkhead to the aft boiler room and the longitudinal bulkhead of the two forward firing rooms causing her to flood and to list to port.
As she began to capsize, two more torpedoes struck her. Her seamen were also being strafed by Japanese aircraft as they were trying to abandon the ship. In less than twelve minutes, she rolled over until halted when her masts touched bottom, her starboard side above water with part of her keel exposed. It's believed the ship absorbed as many as eight hits in all. Many of her crew were jumping from the decks 50 feet into the oil covered burning hot water, however, many remained in the fight, crawling across mooring lines to the Maryland to help man her AA guns. Many others were trapped within the capsized hull to include Paul. Efforts to rescue them began within minutes of the ship capsizing and continued well into the night. Julio DeCastro, a Hawaiian civilian yard worker, organized a team that saved 32 Oklahoma sailors. This was a tricky operation as cutting open the hull released trapped air, raising the water levels around entombed men, while cutting in the wrong place could also ignite stored fuel. Even with this Herculean effort some who may have survived the attack were never reached in time. After three days and when no more knocking could be heard from inside the Oklahoma, rescue efforts were ceased and recovery efforts began. This would take until 16 June 1943 when the Oklahoma was righted and at that time most of the remains were removed.
In all, 429 men were listed as missing in action/unknowns since their remains could not be identified and interred in two cemeteries (Nu'uanu and Halawa) on Oahu near Honolulu in 1945 & 46. Paul was listed as Missing in Action on 30 December 1941 at the age of 21. His name is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial and in the Oklahoma Memorial, both in Hawaii.
In September 1947, they were disinterred, reexamined and 35 were identified. The estimated remaining 388-394 were reinterred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, commonly known as the Punch Bowl at 46 sites (graves) in 61 caskets and basically forgotten. In 2015, all were again disinterred to have dental records reexamined and DNA tests conducted on all the bones.
Fireman First Class Paul Edd Saylor was finally accounted for on Tuesday, 24 November 2020 by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time of his death, Paul was survived by his parents, Reverend Samuel "Saul" Brown Saylor, and Mary L. Shaver and two brothers, Arthur M. and George Washington Saylor. George served in the United States Army during World War II.
Paul was laid to rest with his parents in Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee at the Happy Valley Memorial Park in the Laurels Section, Plot 23A, Grave 4 at 1200 hours (12pm/noon) on Friday, 20 August 2021. Paul, Welcome Home our young sailor and may you finally Rest in Peace. A rosette was added to his name at the Honolulu Memorial indicting that he has been accounted for and is no longer missing.
Paul's many letters home have been preserved over the last 80 years by family members. They reveal much about his character and work ethic. He loved his family and was proud of his accomplishments and promotions with the Navy. Early on he admitted that occasions of gambling and drinking did not sit well with him and said he was giving up cards and drinking. He learned that he was eligible for promotion every 3 months if he studied hard and passed the tests. One motivation was the pay increases as he was diligently sending money home. The country was still in the grip of the Great Depression and his contribution made a difference in the lives of those he left behind. Had he survived, his eagerness to succeed, his demonstrated self-discipline and his desire to learn would have surely propelled him forward into a successful life and career.
Note: Another one of those missing was Father Aloysius Schmitt the first American chaplain of any faith to die in World War II. As for the USS Oklahoma (BB-37), in 16 June 1943, she was righted and salvaged after the last remains were removed. Unlike most of the other battleships that were recovered following Pearl Harbor, the Oklahoma was too damaged to return to duty. Her wreck was eventually stripped of her remaining armaments and decommissioned on 1 September 1944 before being sold for scrap in 1946. The hulk sank in a storm on 17 May 1947 in the Pacific Ocean, while being towed from Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, to a breakers yard in San Francisco Bay, California.
Special Thanks to Paul's niece Susan for the edit and for adding that personal touch.
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