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Chief Paul Golden (Swish) Saunders (January 12, 1918 - August 9, 2003) was a highly decorated United States Navy submarine sailor who was twice awarded the Silver Star medal during World War II.
Naval career
Paul "Swish" Saunders enlisted in the Navy in 1936 and served for 26 years before retiring as GMGC(SS) (Chief Gunners Mate Guns, Submarine Service). Prior to submarines Paul served on the light cruiser USS Raleigh (CL-7) and on destroyers McCook (DD-252) and Sampson (DD-394). Paul 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. They destroyed a 16-car train on the coastal railway with an explosive charge, using a microswitch under the rails to trigger the explosion.
Paul was highly regarded as one of the most decorated enlisted men in the Submarine Service, distinguishing himself during WWII while serving on board the Barb. Paul 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 through 12. He was also COB for the Cusk, Carbonero and Theodore Roosevelt.
Chief Saunders was awarded two Silver Star Medals, one Bronze Star Medal, and a Letter of Commendation with Ribbon in recognition of his heroic actions in combat during WWII. He also received the Submarine Combat pin, Victory Medal, American Theater medal, Philippine Liberation medal. He was further famed in the book Thunder Below by his USS Barb skipper, Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey.
Post naval career
Post WWII found Paul 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. Paul Saunders was a member of Submarine Veterans of WWII and also a member of United States Submarine Veterans, Inc., Nautilus Base.
Chief Saunders received his final set of orders 09 Aug 2003 and departed on Eternal Patrol from his home in Dunnellon, Florida following a lengthy illness. Sailor, rest your oars.
Other Comments:
Service number: 2657219
Submarine war patrols:
USS Barb (S-220) - 1st through 12th
I remember a nice fall day in the late 1990's when I was walking through a seafood and Arts & Crafts Festival in a small Florida town on the upper west coast. An older guy was walking toward me and he was wearing a cap that had SS-220 on the front. I pointed at him and said,
"You rode the BARB under Gene Fluckey!"
He stood up as tall as 5 foot 6 inches could stand, and replied,
"Best damn Skipper in the fleet!"
I asked if he had been on the patrol where GENE FLUCKEY sent eight men ashore, the first and only time that uniformed American military personnel set foot on the Home Islands of Japan during World War II. The men were to place an explosive charge under the tracks where a troop train passed early every morning, bringing fresh Japanese troops to board ships to fight against the U.S. Marines. An impish smile crossed his face and he said,
"I'm the guy who put the charge under the rails!"
This was PAUL "Swish" SAUNDERS, Chief of the Boat, USS BARB. He was a real salty sailor, almost a character out of a paperback novel, but he loved his former Skipper, his former crew and his old ride, USS BARB. He was with Sharkhunters for many years and he loved his Membership as well.
