World War II Honoree

Frank J. Banach

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cleveland, Ohio

Honored By

William Banach

Relationship

Son

ENTERED SERVICE IN 1943 AFTER GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL. TRAINED AT FORT BLISS AND CAMP CARSON AS AN ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNNER, BUT WAS THEN SENT TO THE INFANTRY. STATESIDE TRAINING WAS COMPLETED IN MAY 1944 AND HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 35TH INANTRY 'SANTA FE' DIVISION. HE WAS SHIPPED TO ENGLAND FROM NEW YORK CITY ON THE RMS MAURETANIA. HE ARRIVED SAFELY IN ENGLAND AND WAS THEN DEPLOYED TO OMAHA BEACH, NORMANDY, FRANCE. HE FOUGHT INLAND THROUGH NORMANDY TO ST. LO. TOOK PART IN THE RESCUE OF THE 30TH DIVISION 'LOST BATTALION', 7-13 AUGUST, 1944. FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH DECEMBER 1944 HE FOUGHT ACROSS FRANCE AND DROVE ON TO THE GERMAN BORDER. ON CHISTMAS, 1944 HE WAS CALLED INTO ACTION AT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. ON 4 JANUARY, 1945 HIS COMPANY AND TWO OTHER COMPANIES BECAME ISOLATED NEAR MARTELANGE AND WERE CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS. HE WALKED IN THE COLD FOR OVER 2 WEEKS TO A PRISONER OF WAR CAMP IN LIMBURG, GERMANY. IN APRIL, 1945 HE WAS LIBERATED BY THE BRITISH. ENDURED 5 MONTHS OF CONSTANT COMBAT FOLLOWED BY 5 MONTHS AS A PRISONER OF WAR. RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.