Roberts enlisted to join the navy on May 25th, 1943 willing to serve for 2 years. After completing 8th grade, he sought to join and serve America since he liked the navy.  At the age of 17, not married and looking for action, Roberts would leave his home town of Johnstown and embark on his military journey. 

Enlistment Application

Roberts served on the U. S. S. LCSL - 31 as a First Class Seaman. He was assigned as gunfire support on one of the landing crafts that would be used in the attack on Omaha Beach.

From the article "Lucky Larry Lampton, 75 years after D-Day" (found at www.northernexpress.com), Leonard "Larry" Lampton served in the same unit as Roberts' and was one of the 18 out of 71 who survived off the coast of Omaha Beach. They went through basic training together and trained as diesel mechanics. Both Roberts' and Lampton were selected to be a special part of an elite "support group" and underwent rifle training, electrical, welding, and other skills. Aboard their ship, Lampton said "their duty was to stay 10 miles from the shore and protect from the ship from air attacks", but since there were no air attacks, the crew was sent in the first wave. Unfortunately, Roberts; did not make it out of the ship since it was sunk, or he was either killed on top buy gunfire. 

Paul L. Roberts' was considered dead on June 7th, 1945, off the coast of Normandy, France. Since there were no remains of his body, his name was inscribed on the Tablet of the Missing's in Normandy's American Cemetery.