In early 2013, a new initiative called the Story of the Month was launched by the Stories of Service Program at the United States Navy Memorial. The Stories of Service Program is proud to recognize our Nation’s Veterans and preserve their stories for future generations. Each month, the program will select a Veteran’s interview which has been conducted, edited, and archived by the United States Navy Memorial, to be featured as the “Story of the Month.” The third published Story of the Month honored, celebrated, and recognized the service of United States Navy Veteran, Signalman Second Class Paul Meunier. Signalman Second Class Meunier was interviewed by the Navy Memorial at the USS Hornet Association Reunion in San Mateo California.

The importance of archiving his interviews embodies the values of the Navy Memorial and its unwavering mission to preserve the heritage of the Sea Services for future generations to come.

The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the May 2023 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of World War Two Veteran Signalman Second Class Paul Meunier. The following is the original article, first published in 2013.

As fighting was intensifying across Europe and Asia in the late 1930's, Paul Meunier wasn't willing to watch events pass by. He recalled, "Upon graduation from high school, I wanted to get away from home...so I decided Hitler was the biggest thing in the world as a danger, and I and a friend signed up to enlist." After completing boot camp at Great Lakes, he and his friend were given assignments. Meunier remembered that moment with a smile, and recalled, "… he was going to PT boats and I was going to the USS Hornet. The Hornet was brand new and getting ready for a shakedown cruise." The USS Hornet CV 8 was the newest carrier on the line and departed the East Coast for San Francisco. 

Meunier recalled the moment when he witnessed 16 B-25 bombers being loaded onto the Hornet and Col. Jimmy Doolittle overseeing the affair. After the Hornet departed San Francisco, he fondly remembered the moment a plane dropped sealed orders on the deck, "The Captain and the crew opened up the orders and we found out we were going to Japan." Sailing closer and closer to the target, Meunier shared that, "We got within 600-650 miles or less...I was on the bridge at the time and (our escorts) fired 595 rounds of ammunition in 5 or 6 minutes... they say it was a Japanese picket boat." One by one he watched from the signal bridge as each plane took off from the deck of the Hornet, bound to attack Japan, months after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. 

Meunier paused for a moment, remembering the scene of bombers lifting off, "They took off beautifully and circled around and grouped up."  After Doolittle and his Raiders left the deck of the Hornet, the ship returned to battle the Japanese Navy.

Meunier shared his memories of the turning point of the Pacific War, the Battle of Midway and the USS Hornet's contributions to that American Victory in early June of 1942. As Japanese planes approached, he remarked, "Those Japanese planes came over there and I thought boy are we in for it now and they went for the USS Yorktown, and that was the end of the Yorktown." His interview continues with the Hornet's service after Midway.

The United States Navy Memorial honors USS Hornet CV 8 Veteran Paul Meunier, featured within this series titled, Stories of Service, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran's story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about his story, you can view the first and second part of his experience from the Navy Memorial Interview Archive.