Name: Paul John MAUNTEL
Rank / Rating: S2-Seaman Second Class
Service #: 855 47 69
DOB: Mar 31, 1925
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Parents: Paul F. Mauntel and Eleanor E. Mauntel
Went Aboard: Sep 01, 1943
Age When Ship Went Down: 20 years, 3 months, 30 days
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Admin
Date Posted:

Seaman Second Class Mauntel was born on March 31, 1925 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He joined the crew of USS Indianapolis on September 1, 1943. Paul was one of eight children to Paul F. and Eleanor E. Mauntel (nee Smeddinck). He attended the St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School and then attended Roger Bacon High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. On May 24, 1943 Paul enlisted in the Navy at age 18.

When he came home after seeing the draft board and told his grandmother he was in the Navy, she always said he asked for the Navy, but the board had said that he was a very healthy young man and assigned him to the Navy. He did his training at USNTC (United States Naval Training Center), Great Lakes, Illinois and then transferred to Pleasanton, CA where he was assigned to Indianapolis. Family always talked about how he tried to enlist in the Navy at 17, but my grandfather would not sign for him. He had an older brother, Charlie, who was already serving in the Army. Paul had his appendix taken out on board Indianapolis because he did not want to leave the ship and be reassigned to another ship. The last time Paul was home was when Indianapolis was in for repairs after the kamikaze attack. After his leave was up he told his mother, and his sister Ruth, that he would not see her again. His mother never told anyone what he had said. The loss was still painful for the surviving sisters who would not watch any movie or documentary about the loss, nor would they read any of the books because it brought back painful memories. His aunt once read one of the books, but she said it made her cry and had to stop. His uncle who is the second youngest of the siblings kept Paul's memory alive by wearing the Indianapolis hat and talking to people when they asked him about it. Paul's older brother Robert, a Catholic Priest, would say a mass every year in memory of all those lost at sea. The Public Library of Hamilton County and Cincinnati dedicated a Book of Homage on Memorial Day, May 30, 1955. It listed all the names of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. There was also a memorial mass said that was attended by his siblings and parents in 1945. The Mayor City of Cincinnati, John Cranley also declared a Paul J. Mauntel Day. Paul has also been entered into the National World War 2 Memorial Registry of Remembrances. In Paul’s family, with regard to Captain McVay’s court-martial trial, everyone thought it was a travesty and blamed Admiral King for whole affair. Paul was involved in every operation USS Indianapolis participated in from September 1943 until the sinking on 30 July 1945. From accounts by survivors Paul was killed instantly. See Additional Photos Section below to review a Cincinnati Enquirer Newspaper Article ("Eight Seamen Declared Dead; With Crew Of Indianapolis; Fate of Ninth Undisclosed"). The article mentions Paul Mauntel Jr along with eight other men from Hamilton County who were all Lost at Sea with the sinking of USS Indianapolis CA-35 on July 30, 1945.