Page 26 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2019- Online Magazine
P. 26
A Soldier's Story
Paul Sherbourne Gusler From the Farm to
the Submarine
by Son Jim Wilson
in Ft. Sumner, NM, Paul turned 21 on his first day
where Paul’s father of Basic Training, December 8,
ran the “electric plant” 1941. He was told at that time
and operated the local that, “Whatever you don’t learn
movie theatre. Paul in Basic Training, they’ll teach
graduated from high you on the ship!” He was issued
school in Ft. Sumner uniforms, given shots and a
and was on the physical exam . . . and a Blue
track team as a high Jacket Manual. His basic training
jumper. He worked was brief, as he was on shipboard
as an electrician for soon, beginning convoy duty in
the electric plant, as the Pacific between Bora Bora
a projectionist at the and Tonga by January 1, 1942.
theatre and on the
family farm. In early While serving as an Electrician’s
1940, Paul’s older Mate in the Pacific, he was
brother Leslie Gusler assigned to the light cruiser,
enlisted in the U.S. the USS Richmond and saw
Army, and in the fall action when the US fleet
of 1941, Paul enlisted engaged the Japanese fleet in
in the U.S. Navy. Both the Aleutian Islands, off the
boys were looking for coast of Alaska. On March 23,
a way off the farm and 1943, the Admiral had come
The stories of World War out from the control of their very aboard the USS Richmond from
II soldiers are as varied as domineering father. the heavy cruiser flagship in
each individual, but what In early December 1941, Paul was order to conduct an inspection
– when suddenly, the Japanese
they have in common is sworn in to the Navy at Denver, fleet was encountered! The
courage. This is a little bit CO and was put on a troop train. Admiral took command of
of my dad‘s story, as told He arrived at the Naval Induction the fleet from the Richmond,
to me. Center in San Diego, CA on the commandeering the bridge of
evening of December 6, 1941. the cruiser. Paul (Daddy) told
The next morning, while meeting me that their Captain was young
aul Sherbourne Gusler all the new guys who were in and inexperienced. Paul still
was born in a farmhouse his basic training company, they believes that the evasive action
Pin Grenville, NM on were listening to the radio in the taken by the Admiral, using “zig-
December 8, 1919, the second son Rec Hall. They thought it was zag” maneuvering of the ship,
of Louis Glen and Dollie Leslie another Orson Welles “War of the is the only thing that kept the
Gusler.
Worlds”-type broadcast when USS Richmond from being blown
As his father was an the Master Chief rushed in and out of the water that day! The
entrepreneur, the family moved told them that it was no joke... U.S. Fleet was outgunned by the
around during his youth, living the Japanese had just bombed Japanese, but they managed to
in places like Portland, OR, Pearl Harbor, and America was win the day.
Keysville, VA and finally settling now officially at war!
26 Amarillo Senior Link
