Paul W. Harless has achieved distinguished status among American veterans of World War II.

The longtime North Augusta resident served in the U.S. Navy, beginning his military service in 1939 as a teenager.

In May 1940, he became a crew member on the presidential yacht, the USS Potomac. Franklin D. Roosevelt was president.

Harless is the only know surviving crew member of the yacht from the Roosevelt years. Today, the restored USS Potomac is a designated historical ship with its own museum in Oakland, Calif.

Now, Harless is soon to be presenting a scale model of the presidential yacht, USS Potomac, to the museum where some of his memorabilia already resides.

But first, the model is being displayed closer to home through Sept. 8. It is part of the "Recollections from World War II" exhibit at the Arts and Heritage Center inside the North Augusta Municipal Building. Then it will travel on to the Little White House Museum at Warm Springs, Ga.

Visitors may view this exhibit in North Augusta Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Such visitors may even find Paul Harless there at the display, warmly telling stories that speak of love of country and devotion to duty.

This model project was begun by Chris Lott, architect from Brunswick, Ga., and has been built by David and Philip Bales of Charlotte, N.C.

Almost 4 feet long and built of wood, this model is one of a very few known ever to exist.

They built it from photographs of the ship using historic shipbuilding methods. They laid a keel, added ribs and 1âÑ8-inch planking to create the hull. More than 200 hours of work were required by David, a master woodworker, and Philip, a naval veteran. Neither has ever made a model of anything before. This was a labor of love and respect for their great-uncle.

And Harless definitely has stories to tell.

He remembers in minute detail those years on the USS Potomac. Roosevelt was a victim of crippling polio and confined to a wheelchair. He was reluctant to be photographed in the wheelchair. He also loved to fish. So he often spent time on fishing excursions, away from prying cameras and inquisitive media.

Harless relates the humorous account of one fishing excursion during which the president spotted a lobster fisherman at work. He asked the captain to bring the ship up close so he could call down to the fisherman.

He shouted, "May I buy a bushel of lobsters?" The fisherman shouted back, "No, Mr. President, I won't sell you a bushel of lobsters. I will give you a bushel of lobsters. I want to be remembered as the man who gave a bushel of lobsters to the last Democrat president in the history of America." Harless recalls the president leaning back in his wheelchair and roared with laughter.

Roosevelt was able to have private and secret conferences with world leaders such as Winston Churchill at sea.

In early August 1941, the president was transported aboard the yacht to the USS Augusta near Newfoundland where they met to complete the North Atlantic Charter. This was the agreement between the United States and Great Britain on the conduct of the war.

Harless also served on the destroyer, the USS John Rogers in the Pacific.

On May 14, 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, he is credited with shooting down a kamikaze plane. As the plane came in strafing with machine gunfire, he made a perfect shot striking the plane's bomb. The bomb exploded and the plane disintegrated with debris peppering the ship.

The USS John Rogers was awarded 12 battle stars for major operations in the pacific. Harless finished his naval career making numerous trips to the Far East, Africa and Europe, transporting U.S. troops during the Korean Conflict.

He has written a memoir of his naval experiences and continues his strong interest in American military history. His family heritage includes military service to America by his ancestors in every conflict including the Revolutionary War.

For many years, he has been a frequent resource person to the state historical museum at the Little White House in Warm Springs, Ga. This is where Roosevelt traveled more than 40 times during his presidency to soak in the warm springs to relieve his painful crippling condition. It is also where Roosevelt died.

Although the USS Potomac model will travel to Warm Springs on Sept. 8, the "Recollections from World War II" exhibit will remain on display until Oct. 2.

Admission to the Arts and Heritage Center is $3 for adults, $1 for students K-12 and free for those 5 and younger. For more information call 441-4380.