Paul Dalvin Casher

Paul Casher trained as an aviation radioman and gunner, and served with several squadrons in the South Pacific. In the span of a few months in 1943, Sergeant Casher appears on the muster rolls of VMTB-233, VMSB-141, VMSB-234, and VMSB-236; he flew some combat missions in the Solomon Islands with VMSB-141.

The details of Casher’s overseas experiences are not currently known, but they had a profound effect on his psyche. On 21 November 1943, he was pulled from his squadron and attached to Marine Air Group Eleven, pending evacuation from Espiritu Santo. He was diagnosed with “Psychoneurosis – Unclassified Case” and it was hoped that hospitalization in New Zealand might help. Casher sailed from Espiritu Santo via the evacuation transport USS Pinkney.

At 0215 on 28 November 1943, Casher was reported as missing from the Pinkney’s surgical ward. A thorough search of the ship was immediately made, and Casher’s pajamas were discovered on the port side aft, stuffed behind a fire plug. Pinkney docked in Auckland a few hours later and discharged her patients – still, there was no sign of Sergeant Casher, and no eyewitnesses to his disappearance.

Authorities considered the available facts, and concluded “In view of the patient’s past history of suicidal attempts, it is assumed that he jumped over the side of the ship.”