Last World War II veteran returns to Battleship New Jersey after 80 years

Nearly eight decades after serving aboard the Battleship New Jersey during World War II, 101-year-old veteran Paul Robbins returned Monday to the vessel where he spent some of the most formative years of his life.

Robbins, believed to be the last surviving World War II sailor who served aboard the historic battleship, traveled from his home in Omaha, Nebraska, to visit the Camden museum ship and reconnect with a chapter of history he experienced firsthand.

At age 18, Robbins joined the crew of the USS New Jersey and served aboard the vessel from 1943 to 1946. During the war, he was part of the crew responsible for operating the ship’s powerful artillery as the battleship participated in campaigns across the Pacific Theater.

Standing once again on the deck of the ship, Robbins described the experience as a return to familiar ground.

“It feels like an old homecoming,” he said.

The visit included a ceremony recognizing Robbins’ military service and his connection to one of the Navy’s most decorated battleships. Officials from Camden County presented him with a commemorative medal and a proclamation honoring his contributions during the war.

“I’m surprised and I’m thankful,” Robbins said during the event.

For those responsible for preserving the Battleship New Jersey as a museum and memorial, Robbins’ visit provided a rare opportunity to hear directly from someone who served aboard the vessel during its wartime operations.

“Paul is the embodiment of the Greatest Generation,” said Marshall Spevak, chief executive officer of the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial. “He served on this ship throughout World War II in the Pacific, and it is our responsibility to preserve not only the ship itself but also the stories of the men who served aboard her.”

As part of the ceremony, Robbins signed an American flag that will be flown aboard the battleship, creating a lasting tribute to his service and connection to the vessel.

The Battleship New Jersey, commissioned in 1943, earned distinction during World War II and later served in the Korean War, the Vietnam War and conflicts in the Middle East. Today, the ship operates as a museum on the Camden waterfront, welcoming visitors and preserving the legacy of the sailors who served aboard it.

For Robbins, the visit was an opportunity to revisit a place that helped shape his life. For those gathered to welcome him, it was a chance to honor a living link to one of the defining chapters of American history.