Paul Martin graduated from Galena High School, Kansas in May 1943. He joined the Navy on September 11th of that same year and was sent to 'Boot Camp' in Farragut, Idaho. Following that orientation and training, he was sent to the Hospital Corpsman School in San Diego, CA. After medical training, he was assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital as a corpsman. On March 24, 1944 he was shipped to Pear Harbor's AIEA Receiving Barracks. On May 8th 1944, Paul was assigned to the ship USS Livingston AKA 163 and then participated in a task force for the invasion of Saipan, Mariana Islands. On June 11th, they landed troops in Saipan and for four days were under constant attack from Japanese planes and shore batteries. That was Paul's first combat experience. Following the Saipan operation, the USS Livingston went to Apamama in the Gilbert Islands, picked up the 7th AAF and took them to Saipan. After they unloaded the troops, the ship moved over to Tinian Island, picked up Japanese prisoners, then picked up additional prisoners at Saipan and moved them all back to Pearl Harbor for confinement. The prisoners numbered 250 and 76 of them were wounded. Six of the prisoners died enroute and were buried at sea. On the return to Pearl Harbor he was reassigned to a new ship, the USS Caviler APA 37. On that ship, he participated in the invasions of Leyte, Lingayen Gulf, Luzon and Zambales Beach, Luzon. While on that ship, the task force was attacked by Japanese suicide planes. A ship just off the port bow of Paul's ship was hit broadside and exploded. They met no enemy fire at Zambales Beach, Luzon. However after they left the area as the last ship on the column on January 30, 1945, they were hit by a torpedo at 1:30 in the morning in #5 hole. One torpedo went behind the ship and the second one hit them. They were able to stay afloat but had to be pulled back by tugs from the fleet to Leyte. Paul was returned to Pearl Harbor where he was assigned to another ship, the USS Barnwell APA 132. On August 15, 1945, the Japanese surrendered, while the Barnwell was docked at Manus in the Admiralty Islands. The ship had a wonderful celebration - the men shot flares and guns into the sky. The war over; a feeling of relief was evident. After the Japanese surrendered, the ship was used to transport troops to Japan for occupational duties. They also made trips to Kure and Sasebo. Paul was assigned to three different ships as he did not belong to any ship's crew. He was attached to the ships as part of the Medical Amphibious Corps that was attached to each ship. Each ship had three doctors and eight corpsmen. Paul was discharged from the Navy on March 30, 1946. After discharge, Paul earned his degree at the University of Mortuary Science in Kansas City. He then moved to Abilene, KS, where he owned the Martin Funeral Home for over 30 years. Paul is married to the former Lil Armstrong.