Paul Earl Perkins is one of the oldest living World War II veterans in Soddy-Daisy, according to local veterans organizations.
He will celebrate his 90th birthday July 21 at South Soddy Baptist Church at 3:30 p.m. along with family and friends.
From left, Soddy-Daisy residents Leona Perkins and her husband, World War II veteran Paul Earl Perkins, their daughters Shirley Varner and Carolyn Neely and son-in-law Doyle Neely will celebrate Paul Perkins’ 90th birthday July 21. Not pictured is the elder Perkinses’ daughter Sharon Frisbee and son-in-law Larry Frisbee.As a sophomore at Soddy High School, Perkins began trying to enlist in the U.S. Navy. It took a few tries to join the military since he weighed in at 115 pounds with a pack that outweighed him. After joining the Navy Reserves he was sent to Norfolk, Va., for six weeks of intense boot camp training.
At age 19, in 1941 he joined the U.S.S. Idaho Battleship that carried ammunition and guns, where he served as a 2nd Class Machinist Mate, taking care of the ship’s engine. He said the ship sailed to New York, Rhode Island, Iceland, San Francisco and Alaska.
“We were in Iceland when they bombed Pearl Harbor,” said Perkins. “We came back and unloaded supplies in Norfolk. We took off down the canal to San Francisco. We stayed there about a week and then we went to Pearl Harbor to see all the damage.”