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S1c Paul Eugene Shiley
Paul Eugene Shiley was the eldest of seven children.
He was born June 3, 1922 in Wiconisco, Pennsylvania, a small village about 25 miles northeast of Harrisburg, to Lester Shiley, a coal miner, and Minnie Shiley, a homemaker.
As with most families during the Depression, times were tough for the Shileys. Lester Shiley worked 30 weeks in 1939 and earned $450 – about $9,500 in 2022 dollars – to support a household of nine.
Paul Eugene enlisted in the Navy on Oct. 16, 1940, and was a seaman first class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
Sources:The Evening News of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Census: Navy muster roll; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania World War II Veterans’ Compensation Bureau. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
NOTE: If you are a family member related to this crew member of the U.S.S. Arizona, or have additional information, pictures or documents to share about his life or service to our county please contact us through our FAMILY MEMBER SUBMISSION FORM.