After nearly 31 years of loyal and outstanding service in the
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, 
Captain
Hubert A. Paton retired from his last assignment as
Supervisor, Southeastern District, in Norfolk, Virginia, on May
31, 1954, by reason of his own request.
Captain Paton received his education at the Mena, Arkansas,
elementary and high schools and Arkansas University, and graduated
June 5, 1923, from Oklahoma University with the degree Bachelor
of Science in Civil Engineering. On September 1, 1923, he entered
on duty in this Bureau as Deck Officer and was assigned to a
current survey in San Francisco Bay. Following this work he
was Junior Officer aboard the Ships DISCOVERER, PIONEER, and
EXPLORER, in Washington and southwest Alaska, respectively.
His next tour of duty was in the Philippine Islands as Executive
Officer on the MARINDUQUE and old PATHFINDER. Returning to the
States he advanced through various assignments on the LYDONIA,
NATOMA, and SURVEYOR and as Commanding Officer of the GILBERT
and BOWEN. He was Chief of Party which conducted a hydrographic
survey of Oahu Island, T.H., in cooperation with the U.S. Army
in 1931 and during 1948 he was in charge of the Arctic Field
Party engaged on hydrographic surveys along the Arctic coast
of Alaska; both assignments being extremely hazardous and skillfully
executed. Various Naval operating units commended Captain Paton
and expressed their appreciation for his fine cooperation in
expediting the Arctic surveys and furnishing urgently needed
charting information. He was in charge of the Baltimore Photogrammetric
Office prior to his last assignment as Supervisor, Southeastern
District.
During World War II he was on active duty with the U.S. Army
from March 25, 1942 to January 3, 1946, as Aerial Navigation
Training Director 2533 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel,
A.C., and received the following decorations and citations:
European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one BRONZE
STAR, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and
US C&GS Pacific War Zone Ribbon. He participated in the Po Valley
Campaign in Italy.
Upon his retirement, Captain Paton planned to make a leisurely
trip across the northern part of the country to the West Coast
and finally settle in southern California.
THE BUZZARD, 6/2/1954
