PAUL SAID HE WAS ASSIGNED TO TRAVEL ON MERCHANT MARINE SHIPS  IN 1942 AFTER HE FINISHED TRAINING. HE TOLD A STORY OF BEING ASSIGNED TO A SHIP FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, ALONG WITH THREE OTHER SEAMEN. THE CAPTAIN DIDN'T WANT THEM ON THE SHIP, SO HE MADE THEM SLEEP ON THE DECK IN GOOD AND BAD WEATHER. WHEN THEY DOCKED AT A PORT IN THE CARRIBEAN, PAUL TOLD THE PETTY OFFICER THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE LATE, AND "ACCIDENTLY" MISS THE SAILING TIME, BECAUSE HE WASN'T SLEEPING ON THE DECK ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.  THE OFFICER LOOKED AT HIM, AND SAID OK, BUT TO REPORT IN AT THE NEAREST NAVAL OFFICER. PAUL MISSED THE SAILING, BUT THEN LATER HEARD THAT THE SHIP, WHICH WAS TRAVELING AROUND THE HORN OF AFRICA, WAS LOST AT SEA, WITH ALL HANDS MISSING.