Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Paul Henry Carr, USNR (1924-1944), served as the heroic gun captain of the after 5-inch mount of the destroyer escort Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) and died during the battle off Samar in the Battle of Leyte Gulf on 25 Oct. 1944. He received a posthumous Silver Star for his outstanding technical skill and courageous initiative. Carr's mount fired over 300 rounds, crippling the enemy, but Japanese shells severely damaged the Sammy B. Carr and his crew continued firing 6 charges by hand, however a 7th shell exploded prematurely, wrecking the gun and killing and wounding all but 3 men in the gunhouse. Although severely wounded, Carr continued unassisted in an effort to fire one last available round before he was dragged from the gun mount, and he died a few minutes later. The USS Carr (FFG-52) was named in his honor in 1982. His family included his wife, his parents Thomas Henry and Minnie Mae Austin Carr, farmers east of Checotah, and eight sisters.