Obituaries: 2nd Lt. Nathan Paul Abel, 1947, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: November 13, 1947 Winn Parish Enterprise

Military Services For Lt. Paul Abel Held In Georgia

Final rites for 2nd Lt. Nathan Paul Abel, son of Mr. and Mrs. P. K. Abel of
Winnfield, were held in Atco, Georgia, Thursday afternoon, November 6,
with appropriate military ceremonies.  Burial was in the Atco Cemetery.

Lt. Abel died in the line of duty in China on September 15, 1943, when his
plane cracked up following a mission on which it was attacked by Japanese
Zeroes.  His body was returned to the United States aboard the vessel Honda
Knot two weeks ago.  Reinterment was at the hometown of his widow, the former
Miss Mildred Cantrell.  Prior to Lt. Abel's enlistment in the Army in March,
1942, he was associated with the Georgia Automatic Gas Co.

The Rev. Eugene Bartenfield, pastor of the Atco Methodist Church and Chaplain
Clyde Shaw of the Atco American Legion Post conducted the final services.  Six
members of the American Legion served as pallbearers.

Chaplain Shaw presented the United States Flag which draped the casket to Mrs.
Mildred Abel, widow of Lt. Abel.

Lt. Abel, who was serving under the command of General Claire Chenault in
China at the time of his death, was the first Winn Parish native reported
killed in the Asiatic area.  He was a bombadier on a B-24 and had been sent on
a bombing mission to destroy a cement factory in Japan when his plane and
others on the mission were attacked by Japanese aircraft.  Although the plane
was badly damaged, the crew got it back to the home base, but crashed in
an attempted landing.  The entire crew of 12 men were killed.

The Winn Parish branch of the AMVETS (Americans Veterans of World War II)
which was organized here on April 13, 1945, was named the Paul Abel Post in
memory of Lt. Abel.

Survivors are his widow; one daughter, Beth, who is three and one-half years
of age; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. K. Abel of Winnfield; two sisters, Mrs.
Stewart Walker of Baton Rouge, and Mrs. Peck Martin of Amite; one brother,
John Dale Abel, of St. Joseph, Mo.