Project 888
Name: Paul Herford EAMES Jr.
Rank / Rating: ENS-EnsignService #: 442206 DOB: Sep 30, 1924 From: Bangor, Maine Parents: Paul Herford, Sr and Elizabeth Head Eames Went Aboard: 1945 Age When Ship Went Down: 20 years, 10 months, 0 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin) |
 EAMES, Paul H Jr. |
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Paul was born Sept 30, 1924 in Bangor, Penobscot Co., Maine. He was the son of Paul Herford, Sr. and Elizabeth Head Eames. Paul, Sr. was born 1897 in Bingham, ME, son of George C. and Mary Lamb Eames. He was a veteran of WWI and rose to the rank of Ensign. Elizabeth Head was born 1901 in Bangor, ME, the daughter of Walter Lebaron and Mary Alice Brett Head.
Paul, Sr. and Elizabeth married Dec 27, 1923 in Maine. Paul, Jr. was their first of two children born from their union. Richard Everette Eames was born in 1926.
In 1940, the family was living in Essex Co., New Jersey, where Paul graduated in 1941 from Montclair High School. He was editor-in-chief of his high school yearbook.
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 At age 18, Paul enlisted in the USNR on 26 Sept 1942, at Portland, ME. Because he would be attending college, he was entered into the Class V-1 (ACP) (V1-Accredited College Program), USNR, on "Inactive" status. However, his college classes would be considered preparation for the USNR General Deck Officer program as noted in the record of the Office of Naval Officer Procurement, Boston, MA.
He entered Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME, in the fall of 1942. He was a reporter for the Bowdoin Orient newspaper, member of the Masque and Gown Dramatic Society and Zeta Psi fraternity. If all went according to schedule, he would graduate in the class of 1946.
In Dec 1942, the USN announced a new training program that would prepare qualified college students for an officer's commission at graduation. The previous requirement of 4 years of college was reduced to an abbreviated length defined by the Navy. Classes would be attended year round and taught at an accelerated rate. General education classes were taught in addition to those required for naval service. Tuition and room and board were paid by the Navy. If the student passed a written qualifying exam, aptitude test, and rigorous physical exam, he was entered into the new V-12 program, placed on active duty as a Apprentice Seaman and draw pay for this rate. There was only one catch. If the student failed to maintain passing grades and good conduct in school, they were subject to being drafted into military service. Simply returning to their old college would no longer be an option to delay the draft.
The new program appealed to Paul. He had not registered for the draft because he enlisted at age 18, but would now be required to do so. He registered on 18 Dec 1942, six days after the program was announced. The program would not become operational until July 1943 so he would continue his college classes as before.
Paul was beginning his sophomore year at Bowdoin College when the Navy instituted the V-12 program on 1 July 1943. That same day, Paul was ordered to report to Bates College in Lewiston, ME, to begin his active military duty.
The local newspaper listed the names of 80 freshman and sophomore class members at Bowdoin "who have enlisted in the Navy under one of the reserve programs" and would be stationed 1 July 1943 at Bates College. Another article described the loss of the students as a hard blow to the football team for the upcoming season. The small school would have only a few remaining players.
Paul would spend the next 8 months in accelerated college courses that were modified by the Navy. He would be awarded a certificate of completion of the classes.
Paul did well at Bates College. He is listed on the "winter session" of the 1944 Honor Grades list. Also, he served on the editorial staff of the college newspaper.
He was transferred from Bates, 1 Mar 1944*, to the Naval ROTC Unit at Brown University, Providence, RI, where he was received that same day. He was still a AS (V-12). In addition to his general classes and activities, it was here that Paul would received his most intensive indoctrination of the skills and knowledge required of a navy officer.
Paul continued his love of writing when he was named "features editor" of the "Brunavian", the official publication of the Naval ROTC and other V-12 units stationed at Brown University.
Academically, he excelled and was named to the Dean's List and the Navy Class "A" list for his high academic standing.
He was a member of the Brown swimming team. The Dec 1944 swim team news noted he was a senior at the college.
For an unknown reason, Paul was a patient in the Navy Hospital at Newport, RI, from 26 Feb to 24 April 1945. While there, in March 1945, he was awarded a letter for his performance on the swimming team. At discharge, he was transferred back to Brown University. His hospitalization extended his schooling by two months.
After thirteen months at Brown University, Paul was commissioned Ensign on 7 May 1945 with orders to report to the Commandant of the 12th Naval District. He was the only man commissioned that day.
The 12th Naval District was in CA and included Mare Island in Vallejo. There is little doubt that this is when Paul was assigned to USS Indianapolis CA-35. The ship was in dry dock at Mare Island when he went aboard but the exact date is not known. One reference shows he boarded in April but this is unlikely since he was still at Brown University at that time. A newspaper article stated he received 8 weeks of training on Indianapolis before sailing on 16 July 1945. This could be read to mean that the 8 weeks was part of his post-college training. There was no such training on board the ship and I believe the writer was saying that Paul had 8 weeks to orient himself on board and be guided by those with whom he would serve. The article says, also, that Paul served in the communications division. It is not known if this is true. Without a copy of his personnel file, the date he went aboard remains uncertain as well as his division assignment. What is known with certainty is that he went aboard after 7 May 1945 and was present when Indianapolis sailed from Mare Island on 16 July 1945.
Although lacking sea experience, Paul was an intelligent young man who would have been a valuable asset to the other officers of Indianapolis. But, time was not allowed for him to prove his worth on board.
Tragically, only 84 days after being commissioned, Ensign Paul Herford Eames, Jr., would be in a fight for his life when Indianapolis was hit by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 on 30 July 1945. He made it into the water during the sinking. He floated with Lt. Redmayne's group initially, then on the afternoon of Aug 1st he swam several hundred yards to the small group where ENS John Woolston was located, on the periphery of Dr. Haynes' group. Woolston and Paul were roommates on the ship. Paul spoke with Woolston, then swam away. It was the last time anyone reported seeing him.
His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously.
His local newspaper stated Paul "was held in the highest regard in Bangor." Also, "he had a most agreeable disposition and had many talents as well as marked mental attainments."
A flat granite cenotaph was placed for Paul in the Eames family plot in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Penobscot, Co., ME.
*Note: The early records for Brown Univ. show the date March 1, 1944 as 1/3/1944 to correspond with their format for the date of enlistment. 1/3/1944 is not to be confused with Jan 3, 1944. In later records the date is written as 1 March 1944.
Source:
The Bangor Daily News, (ME), Mon, Oct 30, 1922, p. 5; citing engagement of Paul Herford Eames and Elizabeth Head.
AR, State Dept of Heath, Certificate of Death; citing Paul Herford Eames, Sr. died 1966, names his parents. (He was visiting Little Rock, AK when he died. His usual residence was Dunedin, FL where he lived with his wife)
The Brunswick Record, (ME), Thur, May 6, 1943, p. 1; citing radio sketch written by Paul Eames, Jr.
Portland Press Herald, (ME), Sat, June 26, 1943, p. 7; 80 Bowdoin Navy Reserves Go To Bates - Receive Orders To Report July 1.
The Montclair Times, (NJ), Thur, Mar 16, 1944, p. 12; citing Paul Eames V-12 student.
Portland Press Herald, (ME), Sun, Mar 12, 1944, p. 6; "Bates College Paper To Resume"; citing Paul Eames, editorial staff.
The Montclair Times, (NJ ), Thur, Nov 30, 1944, p. 21; citing Navy "A" list
The Montclair Times, (NJ ), Thur, Dec 14, 1944, p. 30; citing Navy "A" list and dean's list.
The Montclair Times, (NJ ), Thu, Mar 1, 1945, p. 28; citing letter for swim team
The Bangor Daily News, (ME), Fri, Aug 17, 1945, p. 11; citing Ens. Paul Eames MIA
The Montclair Times, (NJ), Thur, Aug 17, 1944, p. 18; citing Paul Eames at Brown Univ.
Bangor Daily Commercial, (ME), Fri, Aug 17, 1945, p. 5; citing Ensign Eames MIA
Bangor Daily Commercial, (ME), Sat, Oct 27, 1945, p. 2; citing Ens Paul Eames KIA
Portland Press Herald, (ME), Tue, Jun 4, 1946, p. 4: citing Paul H. Eames as 1946 graduate of Bowdoin.
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/264042201/paul_herford-eames: accessed July 20, 2025), memorial page for Paul Herford Eames Sr. (24 Dec 1897-18 Oct 1966), Find a Grave Memorial ID 264042201.
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31076317/paul_heford-eames: accessed July 20, 2025), memorial page for Paul Herford Eames Jr. (30 Sep 1924-30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 31076317, citing Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine.
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