| Paul Golden Saunders | |
| Birth Date: | 12 January 1918 |
| Birth Place: | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Dunnellon, Florida, U.S. |
| Placeofburial Label: | Place of burial |
| Medal: | Silver Star medal.jpg |
| Nickname: | Swish |
| Allegiance: | United States of America |
| Branch: | United States Navy |
| Serviceyears: | 1936–1962 |
| Rank: | Chief Petty Officer |
| Unit: | USS Barb (SS-220) |
| Battles: | World War II |
| Awards: | Silver Star (2) Bronze Star Medal |
Paul Golden (Swish) Saunders (January 12, 1918 – August 8, 2003) was a highly decorated United States Navy submarine sailor who was twice awarded the Silver Star medal during World War II.
Saunders enlisted in the Navy in 1936 and served for 26 years before retiring as GMGC(SS) (Chief Gunners Mate Guns, Submarine Service) in 1962. Prior to submarines, Chief Saunders served on the light cruiser USS Raleigh (CL-7) and on destroyers McCook (DD-252) and (DD-394).
Saunders qualified in submarines aboard R-4 (SS-81) in 1940 and subsequently served in Barb (SS-220), Cusk (SS-348), Carbonero (SS-337), and Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600).
The only landing of US military forces on the island of Japan during hostilities included Saunders. The landing party destroyed a 16-car train on the coastal railway with an explosive charge, using a microswitch under the rails to trigger the explosion.
He was one of the most decorated enlisted men in the Submarine Service, distinguishing himself during World War II while serving on board the Barb. Saunders made all twelve of Barb’s war patrols, five in the Atlantic and seven in the Pacific and was chief of the boat (COB) for patrols #9–12. He was also COB for the submarines Cusk, Carbonero and Theodore Roosevelt.
He was featured in the book Thunder Below by his USS Barb skipper, Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey.
During his career, Saunders was awarded the following:
Post World War II found Saunders working in the development of the launching systems for KGW-1 Loon, which was an adaptation of the US Army's JB-2 Doodle Bug, Regulus, and Polaris missiles.
Saunders was a member of Submarine Veterans of World War II and also a member of United States Submarine Veterans, Inc., Nautilus Base.
