Name: Paul Edward KNOLL
Rank / Rating: COX-Coxswain
Service #: 861 27 59
DOB: Oct 25, 1924
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Parents: Nicholas Claude and Inez F. Knoll
Went Aboard: Sep 01, 1943
Age When Ship Went Down: 20 years, 9 months, 5 days
Spouse:
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Carl Fahnestock (Admin) and Patricia Stephens (Admin)
Date Posted: Jan 25, 2026

Coxswain Paul Edward Knoll and his sister Betty, were born to Nicholas Claude and Inez F. Knoll who married July 7, 1924. Inez filed for divorce in Muskegon Co., MI, on April 18, 1927 and it was decreed on Feb 15, 1928. In 1930, Paul and Betty were living with their grandparents, Ryan and Betty Knoll. Paul was 5 years old and Betty was 4 years and 3 months old. They were both born in MI. The 1940 census shows Paul, age 15, a high school student, and his sister, Betty M., age 14, also in high school, still in the home of their grandparents on Oak Street. This census asked where the family was living on Apr 1, 1935 and the answer was the same address.

Paul was 18 years old when he registered for the draft on Sept 18, 1942 in Muskegon Co., MI. He enlisted in the Navy on May 25, 1943 in Kalamazoo, MI. He received basic training at Great Lakes, IL., and advanced to S2c (Seaman 2nd class) on July 24th. He was transferred from Great Lakes on Aug 23rd and on Aug 25th he arrived for general duty at the receiving station at Pleasanton (later known as Shoemaker), CA. He was received aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35 on Sept 1, 1943. He was advanced to S1c on April 1, 1944. He participated in eight of the ten major battles for which Indianapolis was awarded Ten Battle Stars. Later in the war, Paul’s father served in the Merchant Marines. On July 16, 1945, as Indianapolis sailed from Hunter’s Point, passing under the Golden Gate Bridge, on her fatal mission, Paul father’s ship passed Indy as it was coming into port. Upon hearing the news of his son’s death, Paul reflected: "I missed seeing my son one last time." When Indianapolis was sunk on July 30, 1945, Paul made it off the ship and survived four days in the water. Rescue came too late for Paul. He was 21 years old. Paul, you are not forgotten. At the time of Paul's death, his mother's name was noted in the Navy records as Mrs. Inez Bowen, 320 Briarwood St, SE, Grand Rapids, MI. Whether Bowen was her maiden name or if she had remarried is not known. MICHIGAN MEMORIAL PLAQUE See photographs, below, of a memorial plaque that was dedicated circa 1946 to honor seventy-two (72) State of Michigan men who served on USS Indianapolis CA-35 and who were Lost At Sea. Paul Edward Knoll's name is listed on the plaque! Per the caption on one of the photos, the plaque was originally planned in 1946 for display at a proposed Detroit Civic Center. The plaque was initially displayed at the Detroit Naval Post VFW #233. However, the plaque had vanished for decades, fueling rumors of theft, being melted for scrap, or hidden away in a private basement. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Jeff Ortiz (nephew of LAS Y3 Orlando Ortiz) and Joni Deaver (cousin of LAS sailor S2c Charles Roof Jr.), this priceless piece of history has been re-discovered in the Detroit Historical Society storage basement in Michigan. One of the photos shows Jeff Ortiz and Ralph McNabb (nephew of LAS F2 Thomas McNabb, Jr) standing behind the very dusty plaque as it was found.