Decorated Naval Aviator, Commander Raymond E. Paul, Dies at 83

The following obituary was provided by Dooley Colonial Funeral Home.

Commander Raymond E. Paul, United States Navy (Retired) passed away on November 7, 2013 after a brief hospital stay with his wife and family by his side.

Commander Paul was born to Madeline C. and Raymond M. Paul in New York City, NY on November 14, 1929.  He grew up in the Bronx and attended The Bronx High School of Science, graduating with honors.  Commander Paul went on to graduate first in the Class of 1951 from the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY.  Upon graduation, he was commissioned an officer of the U.S. Merchant Marine where he sailed for three years aboard Grace Line passenger ships.  Following his initial assignments on merchant marine vessels, Commander Paul accepted a commission in the United States Navy and entered flight training in Pensacola, FL.

Earning his wings as a Naval Aviator in 1954, he flew helicopters at sea from various classes of naval ships, including aircraft carriers, and in follow-on shore assignments.  Significant assignments during his twenty-three year distinguished career included duties at sea in helicopter squadrons, including one of the U.S. Navy’s first helicopter squadrons, Helicopter Utility Squadron TWO (HU-2); Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX (HS-6); and, Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHT (HT-8).  In addition, Commander Paul served in Vietnam at the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (USMACV).  He also served in Stuttgart, Germany on the U.S. Commander-in-Chief, Europe (USCINCEUR) headquarters staff and in Washington, D.C. on the staffs of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (OASD) and the U.S. Navy Chief of Information (CHINFO).  In 1956, Commander Paul met the love of his life, Ruth Rita Waldron, while she was attending Georgian Court College (University) in Lakewood, NJ and he was assigned to helicopter squadron HU-2 at Naval Air Station Lakehurst.  Commander Ray and Ruth Paul were married in Allentown, NJ in 1958.

                Following his retirement from the Navy, Commander Paul established an award-winning Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) at Perth Amboy High School in Perth Amboy, NJ.  During his second twenty-year career as an educator and mentor to the students at Perth Amboy, his outstanding example of leadership inspired many cadets to enter the military service.  Commander Paul was very proud of his students and their accomplishments, both in the armed forces and in their civilian careers. 

Commander Paul’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device for combat valor; Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars; Joint Service Commendation Medal; National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm; Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Action with Palm; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960- device; and, the Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.

                Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of fifty-five years, Ruth Waldron Paul, and his children, Rear Admiral Christopher J. Paul and Shannon, Elizabeth Paul Ivins and Dean, and Captain Andrew T. Paul and Barbara, along with eight grandchildren whom he loved dearly and many close family members and friends.

                The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Garden Club of New Jersey Blue Star Memorial Fund, which supports the Blue Star Memorials and Gardens dedicated to our U.S. service men and women in honor of Commander Raymond E. Paul, USN.  Please send checks made out to Garden Club of New Jersey to:

Susan O'Donnell

GCNJ Blue Star Chairman

209 Johnson Road

Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-3311