US Navy Chief Aviation Machinist Mate Herbert Lee Oliver was stationed aboard the USS Paul Jones during WWII. He had enlisted in the Navy from Texas and by January 1942 he and his destroyer were in the Pacific's Netherlands East Indies. There, they joined up with the Dutch naval forces for escort and anti-submarine patrol. On February 5, 1942, they met up with the Tidore off Sumbawa Island to escort her to Timor. A short time later, they were attacked by three separate groups of Japanese bombers. Although Oliver's ship was able to dodge over twenty bombs, the Tidore was forced to run aground and became disabled. Since the Tibor was now a helpless target, the Paul Jones set about rescuing fifteen of their sailors in a lifeboat plus five off the Tidore itself and six off the beaches. Once loaded, the destroyer high-tailed it for Java.
The ship never explained as to how or why Chief Herbert Lee Oliver was listed as missing in action. But regardless, a telegram was sent to his wife Rosa Josephine at Rt. 1, box 184 in Pensacola stating that he was now missing and presumed dead.
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