Paul Gilbert

Personal Information

Birthplace: Columbus, OH

Service Information

Branch of Service: Navy

Theater of Operation: European

Enlisted / Commissioned: Nov 29, 1942

Discharged: Oct 17, 1945

Honored By: Children: Judy, Becky and Tom

Biography

My father, Paul Gilbert was sonarman 1st class on mine sweepers YMS-15 and USS Sampson. He participated in 2 invasions in North Africa and 3 in Italy. He always had a positive attitude. The following is a diary entry he made while dealing with German bombing of the beaches of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea. ‘We had an air raid almost every hour and no one got any sleep. Sometimes they would last an hour and a half; it was so cold and windy that we were numb. In spite of all the air raids I have been in and the danger involved, I still can’t get over how beautiful they are. The thousands of tracers and bursting shells make a sight that Hollywood will never be able to copy. Even in the midst of the raid, you can hear the men saying ‘ooh and ah’ and ‘look over here.’ Kike kids on the 4th. Eleven air raids last night.’ North Africa; Mediterranean