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PAUL A. NARROW
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Paul A.NARROW Private, "F" Co., 2d Bn, 503d PRCT K.I.A., Grubbs Ravine, Corregidor 22 February 1945 |
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Bill Bailey, who was up in the rim with our battalion S-3, Laurence Browne, later wrote,
The machine gun platoon was from the 3rd LMG. platoon, 2nd Bn HHqCo commanded by 2Lt Clifford MacKenzie. He had followed the 1st and 3rd squads of my platoon. When the line of advance hit the fire lane of the LMG., T-5 William Ashby, Company medic, went to the aid of Pfc Paul Narrow. He went down with gunshot wounds in both ankles. MacKenzie seeing this happen to his front, went to Ashby's aid and died.
Bill Calhoun
When the men had jumped in Africa, they did so in the belief that they were the 503d., but a decision had been made, and of which they were unaware until later, redesignating them. Some clearly felt they had their roots in the 503d, for they had trained as a part of the 503d, and that was where they felt at home. Anyway, Paul Narrow must have felt this way, and he fought not just to be returned to duty, but to duty with the 503d. He even had to learn to fire his M-1 with his left hand. In the action in Grubbs Ravine (described in Mikel’s write-up) when the waiting Japanese opened up suddenly with rifle and Nambu machine gunfire, and a number of the 1st platoon went down as casualties, Paul exposed himself and returned fire, saving others. He died within 30-40 feet of me. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal. He was a warrior.
Bill Calhoun
This photo has had remarkable distribution, made all the more extraordinary because the stick did not jump on Corregidor. The C-47 carrying them was hit, and fell out of formation before the troopers could jump. The troopers ( S/Sgt Charles M. McCurry, Pfc. Marion E. Boone, Pfc. Ralph E. Iverson, Pfc. Paul A. Narrow, Pfc. Theodore C. Yocum and Pfc. Bill McDonald ) would make landfall on Corregidor the following morning when the 1st Bn would be delivered via landing craft from Mariveles. Narrow and Yocum were both killed on Corregidor on the 22d February, and Iverson on Negros on 29 April. (Narrow was one of the men in an "F" Co skirmish line which was ambushed in Grubbs Ravine. He was one of four men killed in that action - the other three were Sgt (Pvt.) George J. Mikel. , Pfc. Theodore C. Yokum & 2d Lt. Clifford MacKenzie of 2d Bn Hq & HQ Co.
Paul Narrow's final resting place is at Calvary Cemetery, Norwood, St.
Lawrence County New York. Image and information (below) has been provided
courtesy of Todd Mayer.
“PFC Paul Narrow was a member of the 503rd Parachute Infantry during WWII
and was killed in action on the island of Corregidor. He enlisted in the
Army in Ogdensburg, NY Dec. 1, 1940 and received basic training at Fort
Hamilton New York, and assigned to airborne infantry. His right arm was
injured in Africa; he was sent to England to recover for a year then sent
to the Pacific area as a paratrooper. He was remembered fondly, although
was a bit of a rascal in his youth.” Born: Nov. 4, 1921, St. Lawrence County, New York, USA Death: Feb. 22, 1945, Corregidor, Philippines Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Norwood. St. Lawrence County, New York, USA
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The
entry in the "F" Company History for 22 February 1945 which gives me cause
for serious doubt is as follows:
To
start with, it was not down Sheeny (or even Cheney) but Grubbs Ravine
that we went.
