Paul Foster
Paul Edwin Foster (Sept. 8, 1908 – March 15, 1942) was the first person from Scott County killed in World War II.
See Also: Scott Countians killed in war
Biography
Born Sept. 8, 1908, Paul E. Foster was the youngest son of Sanders Foster (1875-1912) and Elzina McDonald (1875-1955) of Huntsville. His father died when he was three, and he ran away from home at age 15 to join the Merchant Marine.
Although he would rejoin his family when they moved from Huntsville to Dayton, Oh., Paul’s love for the sea was great, and he rejoined the Merchant Marine several years before the start of World War II. The Merchant Marine is made up of civilian mariners who transport cargo and passengers aboard privately-owned and federally-owned ships. In wartime, the Merchant Marine can be an auxiliary of the U.S. Navy, delivering military personnel and material. Merchant Marine officers can also be commissioned as military officers by the U.S. Dept. of Defense.
Paul married Nellie Tyson in Dayton, Oh. in 1927. They had two children: Mariana B. Foster and William Howard Foster.
World War II
Just weeks before Paul Foster’s death, his brother — Theodore Foster — tried to talk him into leaving the Merchant Marine and joining the U.S. Army.
The conversation was recounted by the Dayton Herald newspaper when Paul Foster was granted unexpected leave in February 1942. His ship, the Olean, had docked in Baltimore to be outfitted with guns. Foster, who served as a third engineer on the Olean, was granted leave by his captain until it was time for him to sail again because he hadn’t seen his family in Dayton in more than six years.
At just after 6 a.m. on March 15, 1942, the Olean was struck by a torpedo from a German U-boat off the East Coast. Six of the 42 men on board died, including Foster, whose body washed ashore on a North Carolina beach days later.
“He wasn’t afraid of dying,” Theodore Foster told the Dayton newspaper. “He could even kid about the dangerous job he had. He knew it was dangerous — he knew it much more than we did. He told us too that we in the midwest had no idea how serious the war was. Incidentally, he even predicted gasoline rationing while he was here.”
When Theodore had tried to talk Paul out of the Merchant Marine, Paul responded: “I’ve been in the merchant marines for 13 years. It would take too long to train someone to fill my place. Besides that, it’s my job.” While he was home on leave, he had gotten his affairs in order. He left his clothes, his watch, and specific instructions on what to do in case he died.
Aftermath
Paul Foster’s body was returned to Scott County, and he was buried at Potter Cemetery in Huntsville, beside his father.
He is not listed on either of Scott County’s war memorials, and is believed to be the only World War II veteran buried in Scott County who does not have a military marker.
Nellie died in May 1976. William was killed in a sledding accident in 1943. Mariana married Thomas Hanfelder. She died in April 1986.