World War II Honoree

Richard E. 'Dick' Franks

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Salem, Ohio

Honored By

His Family

SEAMAN 2ND CLASS. ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY ON OCTOBER 8, 1943 AT AGE 18. MOST OF HIS DUTY WAS IN THE PACIFIC THEATER WHERE HE SERVED AS A SIGNALMAN ABOARD AN LCT. HIS SHIP WAS SUNK BY ENEMY SHELLS NEAR KWAJALEIN. HIS FAMILY RECEIVED A TELEGRAM INFORMING THEM THAT HE HAD BEEN LOST AT SEA. A WEEK LATER HIS PARENTS RECEIVED ANOTHER LETTER, THIS ONE FROM HIM, EXPLAINING THAT HE HAD BEEN RESCUED AND WAS RECOVERING IN A HOSPITAL IN HAWAII. HE HELD ONTO A PIECE OF FLOATING WRECKAGE FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE BEING PICKED UP BY ANOTHER U.S. VESSEL. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE U.S. NAVAL HOSPITAL IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA ON MARCH 23, 1945.