Paul J. Register
Encyclopedia
Paul J. Register was a United States Navy
officer killed in action
during the attack on Pearl Harbor
for whom two U.S. Navy ships were named.
, North Dakota
on 5 November 1899. He graduated from Bismarck High School
in 1917 and from the United States Naval Academy
in 1920 and was simultaneously commissioned as an ensign
.
Register was assigned to the battleship
USS Florida (BB-30)
until 14 June 1921, when he was reassigned for engineering instruction aboard the destroyer
s USS Truxton (DE-229), USS Shaw (DD-68)
, and USS George E. Badger (DD-196)
. In August 1922 he was re-assigned to the Commander of Destroyer Squadrons
aboard the armored cruiser
USS Rochester (CA-2) as assistant to the squadron engineer officer until April 1923.
In 1923, Register reported to Submarine Base New London at New London
, Connecticut
, for instruction at the Submarine School. Promoted to the rank of lieutenant, junior grade
, on 5 June 1923, he received orders to the transport USS Argonne (AP-4)
at Cavite Naval Station in the Philippine Islands for temporary duty. In December 1923 he was assigned the submarine
USS S-6 (SS-111)
and served aboard her until 30 June 1927.
Register was promoted to lieutenant
on 2 June 1927 just before transferring to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis
, Maryland
, for post-graduate studies and in May 1928 attended the Naval War College
at Newport
, Rhode Island
. Lieutenant Register was assigned as gunnery officer
aboard the battleship USS Maryland (BB-46)
in June 1929 until he was ordered to report to the U.S. Naval Academy as an instructor in 1932. From 1932 to 1934 he served as a gun
nery instructor at the Naval Academy and continued his post graduate-work in law
.
In May 1935, Register received orders to report to Rear Admiral
Clark H. Woodward
, Commander Destroyers, Battle Force Pacific, for duty as aide
and flag lieutenant on his staff and continued to serve aboard destroyer tender
USS Melville (AD-2)
after Rear Admiral Woodward was relieved.
In May 1938 Register was assigned to the Navy Recruiting Bureau in New York City
as a United States Naval Reserve instructor. During this assignment he continued to study law at Fordham University
during evenings. He was promoted to lieutenant commander
on 1 July 1939 and was assigned various postings as a Naval Reserve instructor in the State of New York.
On 20 March 1941, Register received notification for change of duty for assignment to the battleship USS Arizona (BB-39)
as her communication officer. He reported for duty aboard Arizona in May 1941. He was killed in action
when Arizona was sunk during the Japan
ese attack
on Pearl Harbor
on 7 December 1941 at the beginning of World War II
.
posthumously in accordance with General Order
No. 186 on 21 January 1943. Other awards he received posthumously were the American Defense Service Medal
and the World War II Victory Medal
on 31 October 1946 and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
on 22 June 1948.
USS Register (DE-308) was named for Lieutenant Commander Register, but she was renamed USS Creamer (DE-308)
while under construction in 1943.
The destroyer escort USS Register (DE-233) then was named for him. While under construction, she was converted into the high-speed transport USS Register (APD-92)
, and was in commission
as such from 1945 to 1946.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
during the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
for whom two U.S. Navy ships were named.
Biography
Paul James Register was born in BismarckBismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
on 5 November 1899. He graduated from Bismarck High School
Bismarck High School
Bismarck High School is a public high school located in Bismarck, North Dakota. It currently serves 1,457 students and is a part of the Bismarck Public Schools system...
in 1917 and from the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1920 and was simultaneously commissioned as an ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
.
Register was assigned to the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
USS Florida (BB-30)
USS Florida (BB-30)
-External links:***...
until 14 June 1921, when he was reassigned for engineering instruction aboard the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s USS Truxton (DE-229), USS Shaw (DD-68)
USS Shaw (DD-68)
USS Shaw was a in the United States Navy during World War I. She was later transferred to the United States Coast Guard as CG-22....
, and USS George E. Badger (DD-196)
USS George E. Badger (DD-196)
USS George E. Badger was a in the United States Navy during World War II; she was named for Secretary of the Navy George E. Badger ....
. In August 1922 he was re-assigned to the Commander of Destroyer Squadrons
Squadron (naval)
A squadron, or naval squadron, is a unit of 3-4 major warships, transport ships, submarines, or sometimes small craft that may be part of a larger task force or a fleet...
aboard the armored cruiser
Armored cruiser
The armored cruiser was a type of warship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Like other types of cruiser, the armored cruiser was a long-range, independent warship, capable of defeating any ship apart from a battleship, and fast enough to outrun any battleships it encountered.The first...
USS Rochester (CA-2) as assistant to the squadron engineer officer until April 1923.
In 1923, Register reported to Submarine Base New London at New London
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, for instruction at the Submarine School. Promoted to the rank of lieutenant, junior grade
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, United States Merchant Marine USMM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade...
, on 5 June 1923, he received orders to the transport USS Argonne (AP-4)
USS Argonne (AS-10)
USS Argonne was originally completed in 1920 under a United States Shipping Board contract by the International Shipbuilding Corp., Hog Island, Pa., and transferred to the Navy on 3 November 1921 by the War Department. Accepted preliminarily by the Navy on that date, she was commissioned as...
at Cavite Naval Station in the Philippine Islands for temporary duty. In December 1923 he was assigned the submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
USS S-6 (SS-111)
USS S-6 (SS-111)
USS S-6 was a second-group S-class submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 29 January 1918 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard. She was launched on 23 December 1919 sponsored by Ms. Eleanor Westcott; and commissioned on 17 May 1920 with Lieutenant Commander George B...
and served aboard her until 30 June 1927.
Register was promoted to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 2 June 1927 just before transferring to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, for post-graduate studies and in May 1928 attended the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
at Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. Lieutenant Register was assigned as gunnery officer
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
aboard the battleship USS Maryland (BB-46)
USS Maryland (BB-46)
USS Maryland , a , was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the seventh state.Her keel was laid down 24 April 1917 by Newport News Shipbuilding Company of Newport News, Virginia. She was launched on 20 March 1920, and sponsored by Mrs. E. Brook Lee, wife of the...
in June 1929 until he was ordered to report to the U.S. Naval Academy as an instructor in 1932. From 1932 to 1934 he served as a gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
nery instructor at the Naval Academy and continued his post graduate-work in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
.
In May 1935, Register received orders to report to Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Clark H. Woodward
Clark H. Woodward
Clark Howell Woodward served the United States Navy in five wars: the Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, the Chinese Boxer Rebellion, and both World Wars. A staunch promoter of an advanced U.S. Navy, he influenced priorities and policies concerning the upgrading and construction of...
, Commander Destroyers, Battle Force Pacific, for duty as aide
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
and flag lieutenant on his staff and continued to serve aboard destroyer tender
Destroyer tender
A destroyer tender is a ship designed to provide maintenance support to a flotilla of destroyers or other small warships. The use of this class has faded from its peak in the first half of the 20th century as the roles of small combatants have evolved .Due to the increased size and automation of...
USS Melville (AD-2)
USS Melville (AD-2)
USS Melville was a United States Navy destroyer tender that saw service in both World Wars.Laid down by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden, New Jersey, on 11 November 1913, she was launched on 2 March 1913, sponsored by Miss Helen W. Neel, granddaughter of Rear Admiral Melville; and...
after Rear Admiral Woodward was relieved.
In May 1938 Register was assigned to the Navy Recruiting Bureau in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as a United States Naval Reserve instructor. During this assignment he continued to study law at Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
during evenings. He was promoted to lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
on 1 July 1939 and was assigned various postings as a Naval Reserve instructor in the State of New York.
On 20 March 1941, Register received notification for change of duty for assignment to the battleship USS Arizona (BB-39)
USS Arizona (BB-39)
USS Arizona, a , was built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. Named in honor of the 48th state's recent admission into the union, the ship was the second and last of the Pennsylvania class of "super-dreadnought" battleships. Although commissioned in 1916, the ship remained stateside...
as her communication officer. He reported for duty aboard Arizona in May 1941. He was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
when Arizona was sunk during the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese attack
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
on 7 December 1941 at the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Awards
Lieutenant Commander Register was awarded the Purple HeartPurple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
posthumously in accordance with General Order
General order
In militaries, a general order is a published directive, originated by a commander, and binding upon all personnel under his command, the purpose of which is to enforce a policy or procedure unique to his unit's situation which is not otherwise addressed in applicable service regulations, military...
No. 186 on 21 January 1943. Other awards he received posthumously were the American Defense Service Medal
American Defense Service Medal
The American Defense Service Medal is a decoration of the United States military, recognizing service before America’s entry into the Second World War but during the initial years of the European conflict.-Criteria:...
and the World War II Victory Medal
World War II Victory Medal
The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of...
on 31 October 1946 and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is a service decoration of the Second World War which was awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945 and was created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was...
on 22 June 1948.
Namesakes
The U.S. Navy destroyer escortDestroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
USS Register (DE-308) was named for Lieutenant Commander Register, but she was renamed USS Creamer (DE-308)
USS Creamer (DE-308)
USS Creamer , ex-USS Register , was a United States Navy launched during World War II, but never completed.Creamer was laid down at Mare Island Navy Yard at Vallejo, California, on 5 July 1943 as USS Register...
while under construction in 1943.
The destroyer escort USS Register (DE-233) then was named for him. While under construction, she was converted into the high-speed transport USS Register (APD-92)
USS Register (APD-92)
USS Register , ex-DE-233, was a United States Navy high-speed transport in commission from 1945 to 1946.-Construction and commissioning:...
, and was in commission
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
as such from 1945 to 1946.