Sources: findagrave

Name: Paul Franklin Cecil Rank: Second Lieutenant Service Number: 20347714 Service: Corps of Engineers, US Army Date of Birth: August 8, 1917 Place of Birth: Henrico County, Virginia Date of Enlistment: February 3, 1941 Place of Enlistment: Norfolk, Virginia Address at Enlistment: Halifax, Nova Scotia Age at Enlistment: 23 Address at marriage: Halifax, Nova Scotia (Jan 31, 1941) Height: 6 feet Occupation: Semiskilled chauffeur or driver Marital Status: Married Date of Death: July 21, 1942 Age: 24 Cemetery: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia Grave: Section 4, Site 5566 Paul Franklin ‘Pete’ Cecil was the son of John Luther Cecil (1891-1952) and Alice Etta (Beck) Cecil (1884- 1935), the husband of Alice Mae (Kindig) Cecil (1922-2014), and the father of Paul Berdell Cecil (1941-1947). His father was a hardwood finisher originally from Thomasville, North Carolina, and his mother was originally from Davidson, North Carolina. Paul was the fifth born of six children. Paul had two older brothers, two older sisters and one younger sister. According to the 1920 census, the Cecil family was living in Richmond, Virginia. That record lists Paul’s birthplace as North Carolina, though other sources indicate he was born in Henrico County, Virginia, which borders Richmond. In 1926, Paul’s father filed for divorce on grounds of desertion. By the 1930 census, Paul was living with his maternal aunt and uncle in Norfolk, Virginia, while his father had remarried and was residing in Richmond with his new wife and two of Paul’s siblings. The March 11, 1932, edition of the Virginian-Pilot reported that Paul had been promoted to Star Scout rank at the Court of Awards of the Norfolk Council, Boy Scouts of America. The June 11, 1932, edition listed Paul among the students promoted from Ruffner Junior High School to Maury High School. Paul’s mother passed away from pulmonary tuberculosis in April 1935. That June, Paul graduated from Maury High School. His photograph and nickname, “Pete,” appeared in the school’s yearbook, The Commodore. Norfolk, Virginia directories from 1937, 1938 and 1940 indicate that Paul was a clerk for D. Pender grocery company during this time. Prior to his World War II service, Paul enlisted on July 27, 1939, for a three-year term in the National Guard. He served with Company D of the 104th Medical Regiment, which was aligned with the 29th Infantry Division, a National Guard division composed of units from Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Paul married Alice Mae Kindig (born in Boston, Mass.) on January 31, 1941, in Camden County, North Carolina, 3 days before re-enlisting on February 3, 1941. The witnesses to the marriage were Alice’s parents, Boyd Berdell Kindig (1896-1968) and Gertrude L (McCallum) Kindig (1900-1970), who were residents of Halifax, Nova Scotia at the time as well. Alice’s mother Gertrude was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Alice was the oldest of four children. Her father had a career with the US Marine Corps, and served in WWI, the inter-war period, and WWII rising to the rank of Master Sergeant. As a result, Alice had lived in many places. Two of her siblings were born in Shanghai, China (1930-1932), which was due to her father’s service with the 4th Marine Regiment. It was deployed to Shanghai in 1927 and remained there until 1941, their primary role being to safeguard the American community and commercial interests, especially within the International Settlement, a foreign- controlled district in Shanghai governed by an English-led municipal council. On July 21, 1942, Paul was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers at MacDill Field. He was one of six aboard a twin- motored, medium bomber on a routine training flight. The aircraft was a B-26 Marauder; serial number 41-17709. All were killed when the bomber crashed into Tampa Bay, Florida. The plane narrowly missed the Gandy Bridge. Also on board were 1st Lt. Joe F. Schabinger, 2nd Lt. William P. Cawthon, 2nd Lt Philip C. Cone, Tech Sgt William W. West and Staff Sgt James D. Keaton, Jr. Funeral services for Paul were held at Brambleton Avenue Methodist Church on July 26. On July 28, 1942, Paul was buried at Arlington National Memorial Cemetery in Section 4, Site 5566. Paul's widow, Alice, married a US Marine named Albert Edward Zollin (1920-1978) in December 1944. Sadly, Paul and Alice's son, Paul Berdell Cecil, passed away in 1947 following an accident in the home.