Memory Project

Cecil "Cec" Paul

This testimony is part of the Memory Project Archive

The Historica-Dominion Institute
The Historica-Dominion Institute
Cecil Paul, Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 27, 2010.
The Historica-Dominion Institute
We had time out there to chase those subs and we were kind of chasing the weatherman. But, you know, we were there to do our duty; and we did the best we could.
We went to action stations [preparation for battle] a number of times and sometimes nothing [was] there. We went to action stations once against one of our own ships because the captain of the opposing ship was, I guess he was an idiot. Anyway, we damn near fired on him. But he finally gave notice of who he was. I was glad, of course. All he had on him was his white shorts. They stood out just like the sun and all he was in line up to go to his action station and I laughed like hell. I go, cripes, there’s a guy who’s really ready for it. He probably got hell from the captain because all you’re supposed to wear is nothing but your boots when you go to bed. War is, it’s a bundle of mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes. Even in our own forces. Oh, I can remember we were in a bad, bad storm one time; and God, I swore to God, it was so bad, but we were just about tipped over, face up. I can’t remember how long it was, but we just hit the bad part of the storm; and boy, we were tossed around like a peanut because you can’t beat that darned sea. I remember I was a little concerned, I thought, God almighty, we had time out there to chase those subs and we were kind of chasing the weatherman. But, you know, we were there to do our duty; and we did the best we could. That`s all.