Winona Lake Native Paul Haney Recalls His Time In Navy
April 22, 2019 at 12:19 a.m.
Winona Lake Native Paul Haney Recalls His Time In Navy
By Drew Beck-
“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”
This Victor Hugo quote rings true for World War II veteran Paul Haney. In years of great darkness and sadness, Haney used his God-given musical talents.
Haney recalls very vividly finding out the United States was headed to war.
“My brother and I were playing on the island (of Winona Lake),” he explained. He said a friend ran up and told them Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor, and right there a 15-year-old Haney knew war was coming for the United States.
Haney said he always knew in the back of his mind he would be heading to war. This became a reality his senior year of high school, when he turned 18.
“When I signed up in March, I knew where I was going,” Haney said.
Haney was called for a physical in Indianapolis in November 1943. He was rejected for being “immature.”
“Here I was, within three months of being 19, and I was immature? I could hardly believe it,” Haney remembers.
It wouldn’t be until September 1944 when Haney would be called back. This time Haney passed. He was put into the Navy, sworn in on Sept. 8, 1944, and the very next day he was on a train to training in the Great Lakes.
Being in the Navy, Haney was able to see much of the world. From San Francisco and Honolulu, to Enewetak Atoll and the Marshall Islands, the Navy enabled Haney to travel farther from Winona Lake than he could have imagined. While some places were rather unpleasant memories, he said, whenever he got the chance to do music, he would take it.
Haney joined the Blue Jackets Choir in the Navy as a second tenor. He sang for some of the crew’s Sunday church services and other occasions when needed. After two months in the choir, Haney was expected to go into basic engineering, something he says he was not too ecstatic about.
Right before he was set to pursue engineering, Haney learned that he could try out for the Navy Orchestra, and quickly tried out on the French horn. He made the orchestra and was sent to the U.S. Navy School of Music.
“That was a real good experience — a God-answered prayer,” Haney recalls.
It was in this orchestra that Haney gained his “claim to fame.” On April 12, 1945, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died. Two days later his body was brought back to Washington, D.C., for a funeral parade.
What does every good funeral procession need? “A band!” Haney said.
He was chosen to march and play in the funeral procession, and says it was one of his greatest honors.
“We played to represent and honor the president of the United States; that doesn’t happen every day.”
On June 9, 1946, Haney was honorably discharged from the Navy.
He spent just under two years in the Navy, an experience he says he’ll never forget. He still has his registration cards, and carries his Navy discharge card in his wallet to this day.
Haney now resides in Grace Village.
“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”
This Victor Hugo quote rings true for World War II veteran Paul Haney. In years of great darkness and sadness, Haney used his God-given musical talents.
Haney recalls very vividly finding out the United States was headed to war.
“My brother and I were playing on the island (of Winona Lake),” he explained. He said a friend ran up and told them Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor, and right there a 15-year-old Haney knew war was coming for the United States.
Haney said he always knew in the back of his mind he would be heading to war. This became a reality his senior year of high school, when he turned 18.
“When I signed up in March, I knew where I was going,” Haney said.
Haney was called for a physical in Indianapolis in November 1943. He was rejected for being “immature.”
“Here I was, within three months of being 19, and I was immature? I could hardly believe it,” Haney remembers.
It wouldn’t be until September 1944 when Haney would be called back. This time Haney passed. He was put into the Navy, sworn in on Sept. 8, 1944, and the very next day he was on a train to training in the Great Lakes.
Being in the Navy, Haney was able to see much of the world. From San Francisco and Honolulu, to Enewetak Atoll and the Marshall Islands, the Navy enabled Haney to travel farther from Winona Lake than he could have imagined. While some places were rather unpleasant memories, he said, whenever he got the chance to do music, he would take it.
Haney joined the Blue Jackets Choir in the Navy as a second tenor. He sang for some of the crew’s Sunday church services and other occasions when needed. After two months in the choir, Haney was expected to go into basic engineering, something he says he was not too ecstatic about.
Right before he was set to pursue engineering, Haney learned that he could try out for the Navy Orchestra, and quickly tried out on the French horn. He made the orchestra and was sent to the U.S. Navy School of Music.
“That was a real good experience — a God-answered prayer,” Haney recalls.
It was in this orchestra that Haney gained his “claim to fame.” On April 12, 1945, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died. Two days later his body was brought back to Washington, D.C., for a funeral parade.
What does every good funeral procession need? “A band!” Haney said.
He was chosen to march and play in the funeral procession, and says it was one of his greatest honors.
“We played to represent and honor the president of the United States; that doesn’t happen every day.”
On June 9, 1946, Haney was honorably discharged from the Navy.
He spent just under two years in the Navy, an experience he says he’ll never forget. He still has his registration cards, and carries his Navy discharge card in his wallet to this day.
Haney now resides in Grace Village.
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