Eagle Scout before the war.
Company Commander - Co. C, 507th Parachute Reg., 82nd Airborne Division.
Combat Infantry Badge
Parachute Badge
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart - KIA D-Day Invasion
American Defense Service Medal
European Theater Medal with one bronze arrow head.
World War II Victory Medal
A wonderful story written by Maximilien de Lussac
Sanford Melvin FRANK was born on August 15, 1913 in Belfield, North Dakota, in Billings County, to parents Mr. and Mrs. John Adam Frank. His mother was German. Sanford graduated from high school and ended 3 years of college where he followed the ROTC program (Reserve Officer Training Corps) in North Dakota. On June 10th, 1938, he married Gertrude Haas (b. 1914, d. 2007) in Clackamas, Oregon. They had a daughter, LaRae Kay Frank (b. July 1939) and were living in Portland, Oregon in April 1940. He worked as a shipping clerk for the US War Department, working in a paper factory (according to the 1940 census). He enlisted in the US Army while residing in Portland.
He was originally a 1st Lieutenant of the 32nd Regiment, 7th Infantry division, training at Fort Ord (California) at the end of July 1941, where he was designated to fight in the Pacific theater. According to LaRae's mother, Sanford Frank had always wanted to become a pilot, but he failed the physical test because he did not have the 20-20 vision required and glasses were not allowed. So he decided to become a paratrooper so he could at least fly a lot. He was in charge of jump training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Airborne Command, Parachute School in early 1942. LaRae's mother told her that "he was most appreciated by all his men who thought he was one of the best officers ever. He jumped every chance he could get". He will soon jump on D-Day as company commander of C Company/507th PIR.
Captain Frank was transferred in England in the HQ Field Force Reserve Deposit, which sounds logical as he was in charge of the jump instruction of paratroopers and was not assigned to a combative unit. In April, 29th, 1944, Sanford Frank had been transferred to the HQ company, 2nd Battalion, 507th PIR. At this moment, C Company of the 507 PIR was commanded by Captain James F. Riecken who had unfortunately, been admitted to the 30th General Hospital in England on April 30th, 1944 due to an accident. On May 6th, Captain Sanford Frank served as interim company commander, although Captain Riecken still maintained his function where possible, set to return to his original post when healed. Capt. Riecken exited the hospital on May 28th, 1944 but, his wealth logically forbid him to jump for D-Day – he will be assigned to Service company in mid-June 1944 and will be placed back in command of C company/507th PIR in January 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge. But on D-Day in June 1944, it was Capt. Frank who led C Company into Normandy.
On June 6th, at 02h44, Capt. Frank's aircraft, a C-47 Dakota (tail number 43-15128, chalk #28, from the serial 26) piloted by Major John A. Crandell, leader of the 305th Troop Carrier Squadron of the 442nd TCG, was taking off from Fulbeck airport in England, as part of mission "Boston," within a group of 45 planes. Due to his officer rank of captain, Sanford Frank will be the first in order of the 16 paratroopers of his stick to jump into Normandy sky on the night of 5-6 June.
He most probably landed in the North-Western outskirts of the 507th PIR drop zone "T." This is known because of one paratrooper in his stick – Private John Katona (#11 in jump order) – had been killed by Germans right after landing in Hémevez (around 10 km NW from DZ "T").
Captain Frank was soon able to join Colonel Van Millett – the 1st battalion commander who will coordinate with various 507th officers to create a strategic plan. He worked with Capt. Allen Taylor, Capt. Paul Smith (F Co), Capt. Allyn (I Co) and Capt. Frank (C Co) to collect a group of 425 paratroopers in the west of Amfreville village. This group will attack this village which would have been a perfect advanced position of the front during La Fière and Chef-du-Pont bridges battle.
This large column of assorted paratroopers was soon beaten back out of the village by the 91st German division, which had previously surrounded the paratroopers. Colonel Van Millett decided to order a strategic retreat to a more defensive position in the East of Amfreville and Gourbesville for June 8th, in the evening.
You must imagine that one unique column of hundreds of paratroopers and 90 German prisoners was sneaking between German positions during this move.
Capt. Paul Smith, in charge of the rear part of this column will be stopped while neutralizing two MG42 machine guns. Lost and leading 150 paras and the 90 German prisoners, he will soon catch up with Captain Sanford Frank who saw that the rear part of the column was missing and waited for the rest of the men to rejoin them.
Captains Smith and Frank will never join Van Millett column as the Colonel will be captured by the Germans with some elements of his group.
Capt. Smith's column will reach a defensive position on the western side of the Merderet. Lieutenant-Colonel Maloney – in charge of 1st Battalion/507th during Van Millett's absence – asked him to keep this position to release the pressure on
Lieutenant-Colonel Timmes, who was currently locked up in the famous nearby orchards.
Another Lieutenant-Colonel from another regiment who was in Van Millett's column will soon join Capt. Smith's position and inform them that a big German force was coming to them. He will order the retreat of all paratroopers to the eastern side of the Merderet, despite Maloney's order and Capt. Smith protests.
This is the most epic part of Sanford Frank history.
I Let Pfc Floyd Leroy Stephens (I Company, 508th PIR) tell this story in a letter to Sanford Frank's mother:
"
Dear Mrs Frank,
I hardly know how to start this letter to you, I read today the 30th of May, the letter which you wrote to Kenneth Nielsen in January.
I knew your son only for a short time, in fact only for three days. On June the sixth, we jumped in Normandy behind the lines, that is where I met your son.
I can honestly say, he was one of the best officers that I ever knew. He gave his life so that the men with him could cross a river and get back in their own lines.
I was wounded at the same time but manage to get back to our own forces.
I am 21 myself and have been wounded three times since the 6th of June.
[…]
There are but two left who knew Captain Frank and we talk about him quite often.
Sincerely yours,
Floyd L. Stephens
"
Floyd Stephens had been declared Missing in Action on June 8th and was found in an aid station to have been wounded on June 10th. He most probably joined the aid station of the 505th PIR that Capt. Paul Smith is referring to in his testimony.
The river that Floyd Stephens is referring to is the Merderet as the "own lines" were on the western part of the Merderet and when looking at the Capt. Smith column walk, this is the only river around that separated the Germans to the US paratroopers.
When reading this letter, we can say that Sanford Frank had most probably been separated right before or after Capt. Smith order of retreat because according to Capt. Smith testimony, there were only German prisoners killed or wounded during his group retreat and the cross of the Merderet. If Capt. Frank was with him and had been killed in Capt. Smith column, he would most probably notice it and refer to it.
According to Floyd Stephens letter, we can also say that Captain Sanford Frank death is most probably on June 9th. His dead body might had been found when the US paratroopers pushed back the Germans from the Eastern side of the Merderet so on the June 12th, date he was declared Killed in Action.
He had been buried first in the temporary cemetery in Blosville (plot D-04-080) before being definitely buried in Colleville cemetery (plot E-16-35) where is resting in peace.
Sanford Frank is recipient of the Purple Heart as KIA. He left his wife Gertrude and his daughter La Rae (5 years), for our freedom.
For his tribute, he deserves the Requiem for a soldier:
You never lived to see
What you gave to me
One shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
With a host of brave unknown soldiers
For your company you will live forever
Here in our memory
In fields of sacrifice
Heroes paid the price
Young men who died for old men's wars
Gone to paradise
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you'll see - we can live together
When all the world is free
I wish you'd lived to see
All you gave to me
Your shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you'll see - we can live together
When all the world is free
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (www.storiesbehindthestars.org) . This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.
References
Phil Nordyke (All Americans All the way, p331), www.usairborne.be, www.airborneinnormandy.com, www.findagrave.com, www.myheritage.com With the personal assistance of Martin K.A. Morgan, historian (author of Down To Earth: The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Normandy ), Max de Lussac
La Fière Battle
Story location: Normandy, FranceStory date: 6 Jun 1944
Added by: maxdelussac
Company Commander - Co. C, 507th Parachute Reg., 82nd Airborne Division.
Combat Infantry Badge
Parachute Badge
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart - KIA D-Day Invasion
American Defense Service Medal
European Theater Medal with one bronze arrow head.
World War II Victory Medal
A wonderful story written by Maximilien de Lussac
Sanford Melvin FRANK was born on August 15, 1913 in Belfield, North Dakota, in Billings County, to parents Mr. and Mrs. John Adam Frank. His mother was German. Sanford graduated from high school and ended 3 years of college where he followed the ROTC program (Reserve Officer Training Corps) in North Dakota. On June 10th, 1938, he married Gertrude Haas (b. 1914, d. 2007) in Clackamas, Oregon. They had a daughter, LaRae Kay Frank (b. July 1939) and were living in Portland, Oregon in April 1940. He worked as a shipping clerk for the US War Department, working in a paper factory (according to the 1940 census). He enlisted in the US Army while residing in Portland.
He was originally a 1st Lieutenant of the 32nd Regiment, 7th Infantry division, training at Fort Ord (California) at the end of July 1941, where he was designated to fight in the Pacific theater. According to LaRae's mother, Sanford Frank had always wanted to become a pilot, but he failed the physical test because he did not have the 20-20 vision required and glasses were not allowed. So he decided to become a paratrooper so he could at least fly a lot. He was in charge of jump training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Airborne Command, Parachute School in early 1942. LaRae's mother told her that "he was most appreciated by all his men who thought he was one of the best officers ever. He jumped every chance he could get". He will soon jump on D-Day as company commander of C Company/507th PIR.
Captain Frank was transferred in England in the HQ Field Force Reserve Deposit, which sounds logical as he was in charge of the jump instruction of paratroopers and was not assigned to a combative unit. In April, 29th, 1944, Sanford Frank had been transferred to the HQ company, 2nd Battalion, 507th PIR. At this moment, C Company of the 507 PIR was commanded by Captain James F. Riecken who had unfortunately, been admitted to the 30th General Hospital in England on April 30th, 1944 due to an accident. On May 6th, Captain Sanford Frank served as interim company commander, although Captain Riecken still maintained his function where possible, set to return to his original post when healed. Capt. Riecken exited the hospital on May 28th, 1944 but, his wealth logically forbid him to jump for D-Day – he will be assigned to Service company in mid-June 1944 and will be placed back in command of C company/507th PIR in January 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge. But on D-Day in June 1944, it was Capt. Frank who led C Company into Normandy.
On June 6th, at 02h44, Capt. Frank's aircraft, a C-47 Dakota (tail number 43-15128, chalk #28, from the serial 26) piloted by Major John A. Crandell, leader of the 305th Troop Carrier Squadron of the 442nd TCG, was taking off from Fulbeck airport in England, as part of mission "Boston," within a group of 45 planes. Due to his officer rank of captain, Sanford Frank will be the first in order of the 16 paratroopers of his stick to jump into Normandy sky on the night of 5-6 June.
He most probably landed in the North-Western outskirts of the 507th PIR drop zone "T." This is known because of one paratrooper in his stick – Private John Katona (#11 in jump order) – had been killed by Germans right after landing in Hémevez (around 10 km NW from DZ "T").
Captain Frank was soon able to join Colonel Van Millett – the 1st battalion commander who will coordinate with various 507th officers to create a strategic plan. He worked with Capt. Allen Taylor, Capt. Paul Smith (F Co), Capt. Allyn (I Co) and Capt. Frank (C Co) to collect a group of 425 paratroopers in the west of Amfreville village. This group will attack this village which would have been a perfect advanced position of the front during La Fière and Chef-du-Pont bridges battle.
This large column of assorted paratroopers was soon beaten back out of the village by the 91st German division, which had previously surrounded the paratroopers. Colonel Van Millett decided to order a strategic retreat to a more defensive position in the East of Amfreville and Gourbesville for June 8th, in the evening.
You must imagine that one unique column of hundreds of paratroopers and 90 German prisoners was sneaking between German positions during this move.
Capt. Paul Smith, in charge of the rear part of this column will be stopped while neutralizing two MG42 machine guns. Lost and leading 150 paras and the 90 German prisoners, he will soon catch up with Captain Sanford Frank who saw that the rear part of the column was missing and waited for the rest of the men to rejoin them.
Captains Smith and Frank will never join Van Millett column as the Colonel will be captured by the Germans with some elements of his group.
Capt. Smith's column will reach a defensive position on the western side of the Merderet. Lieutenant-Colonel Maloney – in charge of 1st Battalion/507th during Van Millett's absence – asked him to keep this position to release the pressure on
Lieutenant-Colonel Timmes, who was currently locked up in the famous nearby orchards.
Another Lieutenant-Colonel from another regiment who was in Van Millett's column will soon join Capt. Smith's position and inform them that a big German force was coming to them. He will order the retreat of all paratroopers to the eastern side of the Merderet, despite Maloney's order and Capt. Smith protests.
This is the most epic part of Sanford Frank history.
I Let Pfc Floyd Leroy Stephens (I Company, 508th PIR) tell this story in a letter to Sanford Frank's mother:
"
Dear Mrs Frank,
I hardly know how to start this letter to you, I read today the 30th of May, the letter which you wrote to Kenneth Nielsen in January.
I knew your son only for a short time, in fact only for three days. On June the sixth, we jumped in Normandy behind the lines, that is where I met your son.
I can honestly say, he was one of the best officers that I ever knew. He gave his life so that the men with him could cross a river and get back in their own lines.
I was wounded at the same time but manage to get back to our own forces.
I am 21 myself and have been wounded three times since the 6th of June.
[…]
There are but two left who knew Captain Frank and we talk about him quite often.
Sincerely yours,
Floyd L. Stephens
"
Floyd Stephens had been declared Missing in Action on June 8th and was found in an aid station to have been wounded on June 10th. He most probably joined the aid station of the 505th PIR that Capt. Paul Smith is referring to in his testimony.
The river that Floyd Stephens is referring to is the Merderet as the "own lines" were on the western part of the Merderet and when looking at the Capt. Smith column walk, this is the only river around that separated the Germans to the US paratroopers.
When reading this letter, we can say that Sanford Frank had most probably been separated right before or after Capt. Smith order of retreat because according to Capt. Smith testimony, there were only German prisoners killed or wounded during his group retreat and the cross of the Merderet. If Capt. Frank was with him and had been killed in Capt. Smith column, he would most probably notice it and refer to it.
According to Floyd Stephens letter, we can also say that Captain Sanford Frank death is most probably on June 9th. His dead body might had been found when the US paratroopers pushed back the Germans from the Eastern side of the Merderet so on the June 12th, date he was declared Killed in Action.
He had been buried first in the temporary cemetery in Blosville (plot D-04-080) before being definitely buried in Colleville cemetery (plot E-16-35) where is resting in peace.
Sanford Frank is recipient of the Purple Heart as KIA. He left his wife Gertrude and his daughter La Rae (5 years), for our freedom.
For his tribute, he deserves the Requiem for a soldier:
You never lived to see
What you gave to me
One shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
With a host of brave unknown soldiers
For your company you will live forever
Here in our memory
In fields of sacrifice
Heroes paid the price
Young men who died for old men's wars
Gone to paradise
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you'll see - we can live together
When all the world is free
I wish you'd lived to see
All you gave to me
Your shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you'll see - we can live together
When all the world is free
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (www.storiesbehindthestars.org) . This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.
References
Phil Nordyke (All Americans All the way, p331), www.usairborne.be, www.airborneinnormandy.com, www.findagrave.com, www.myheritage.com With the personal assistance of Martin K.A. Morgan, historian (author of Down To Earth: The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Normandy ), Max de Lussac
La Fière Battle
Story location: Normandy, FranceStory date: 6 Jun 1944
Added by: maxdelussac
Eagle Scout before the war.
Company Commander - Co. C, 507th Parachute Reg., 82nd Airborne Division.
Combat Infantry Badge
Parachute Badge
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart - KIA D-Day Invasion
American Defense Service Medal
European Theater Medal with one bronze arrow head.
World War II Victory Medal
A wonderful story written by Maximilien de Lussac
Sanford Melvin FRANK was born on August 15, 1913 in Belfield, North Dakota, in Billings County, to parents Mr. and Mrs. John Adam Frank. His mother was German. Sanford graduated from high school and ended 3 years of college where he followed the ROTC program (Reserve Officer Training Corps) in North Dakota. On June 10th, 1938, he married Gertrude Haas (b. 1914, d. 2007) in Clackamas, Oregon. They had a daughter, LaRae Kay Frank (b. July 1939) and were living in Portland, Oregon in April 1940. He worked as a shipping clerk for the US War Department, working in a paper factory (according to the 1940 census). He enlisted in the US Army while residing in Portland.
He was originally a 1st Lieutenant of the 32nd Regiment, 7th Infantry division, training at Fort Ord (California) at the end of July 1941, where he was designated to fight in the Pacific theater. According to LaRae's mother, Sanford Frank had always wanted to become a pilot, but he failed the physical test because he did not have the 20-20 vision required and glasses were not allowed. So he decided to become a paratrooper so he could at least fly a lot. He was in charge of jump training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Airborne Command, Parachute School in early 1942. LaRae's mother told her that "he was most appreciated by all his men who thought he was one of the best officers ever. He jumped every chance he could get". He will soon jump on D-Day as company commander of C Company/507th PIR.
Captain Frank was transferred in England in the HQ Field Force Reserve Deposit, which sounds logical as he was in charge of the jump instruction of paratroopers and was not assigned to a combative unit. In April, 29th, 1944, Sanford Frank had been transferred to the HQ company, 2nd Battalion, 507th PIR. At this moment, C Company of the 507 PIR was commanded by Captain James F. Riecken who had unfortunately, been admitted to the 30th General Hospital in England on April 30th, 1944 due to an accident. On May 6th, Captain Sanford Frank served as interim company commander, although Captain Riecken still maintained his function where possible, set to return to his original post when healed. Capt. Riecken exited the hospital on May 28th, 1944 but, his wealth logically forbid him to jump for D-Day – he will be assigned to Service company in mid-June 1944 and will be placed back in command of C company/507th PIR in January 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge. But on D-Day in June 1944, it was Capt. Frank who led C Company into Normandy.
On June 6th, at 02h44, Capt. Frank's aircraft, a C-47 Dakota (tail number 43-15128, chalk #28, from the serial 26) piloted by Major John A. Crandell, leader of the 305th Troop Carrier Squadron of the 442nd TCG, was taking off from Fulbeck airport in England, as part of mission "Boston," within a group of 45 planes. Due to his officer rank of captain, Sanford Frank will be the first in order of the 16 paratroopers of his stick to jump into Normandy sky on the night of 5-6 June.
He most probably landed in the North-Western outskirts of the 507th PIR drop zone "T." This is known because of one paratrooper in his stick – Private John Katona (#11 in jump order) – had been killed by Germans right after landing in Hémevez (around 10 km NW from DZ "T").
Captain Frank was soon able to join Colonel Van Millett – the 1st battalion commander who will coordinate with various 507th officers to create a strategic plan. He worked with Capt. Allen Taylor, Capt. Paul Smith (F Co), Capt. Allyn (I Co) and Capt. Frank (C Co) to collect a group of 425 paratroopers in the west of Amfreville village. This group will attack this village which would have been a perfect advanced position of the front during La Fière and Chef-du-Pont bridges battle.
This large column of assorted paratroopers was soon beaten back out of the village by the 91st German division, which had previously surrounded the paratroopers. Colonel Van Millett decided to order a strategic retreat to a more defensive position in the East of Amfreville and Gourbesville for June 8th, in the evening.
You must imagine that one unique column of hundreds of paratroopers and 90 German prisoners was sneaking between German positions during this move.
Capt. Paul Smith, in charge of the rear part of this column will be stopped while neutralizing two MG42 machine guns. Lost and leading 150 paras and the 90 German prisoners, he will soon catch up with Captain Sanford Frank who saw that the rear part of the column was missing and waited for the rest of the men to rejoin them.
Captains Smith and Frank will never join Van Millett column as the Colonel will be captured by the Germans with some elements of his group.
Capt. Smith's column will reach a defensive position on the western side of the Merderet. Lieutenant-Colonel Maloney – in charge of 1st Battalion/507th during Van Millett's absence – asked him to keep this position to release the pressure on
Lieutenant-Colonel Timmes, who was currently locked up in the famous nearby orchards.
Another Lieutenant-Colonel from another regiment who was in Van Millett's column will soon join Capt. Smith's position and inform them that a big German force was coming to them. He will order the retreat of all paratroopers to the eastern side of the Merderet, despite Maloney's order and Capt. Smith protests.
This is the most epic part of Sanford Frank history.
I Let Pfc Floyd Leroy Stephens (I Company, 508th PIR) tell this story in a letter to Sanford Frank's mother:
"
Dear Mrs Frank,
I hardly know how to start this letter to you, I read today the 30th of May, the letter which you wrote to Kenneth Nielsen in January.
I knew your son only for a short time, in fact only for three days. On June the sixth, we jumped in Normandy behind the lines, that is where I met your son.
I can honestly say, he was one of the best officers that I ever knew. He gave his life so that the men with him could cross a river and get back in their own lines.
I was wounded at the same time but manage to get back to our own forces.
I am 21 myself and have been wounded three times since the 6th of June.
[…]
There are but two left who knew Captain Frank and we talk about him quite often.
Sincerely yours,
Floyd L. Stephens
"
Floyd Stephens had been declared Missing in Action on June 8th and was found in an aid station to have been wounded on June 10th. He most probably joined the aid station of the 505th PIR that Capt. Paul Smith is referring to in his testimony.
The river that Floyd Stephens is referring to is the Merderet as the "own lines" were on the western part of the Merderet and when looking at the Capt. Smith column walk, this is the only river around that separated the Germans to the US paratroopers.
When reading this letter, we can say that Sanford Frank had most probably been separated right before or after Capt. Smith order of retreat because according to Capt. Smith testimony, there were only German prisoners killed or wounded during his group retreat and the cross of the Merderet. If Capt. Frank was with him and had been killed in Capt. Smith column, he would most probably notice it and refer to it.
According to Floyd Stephens letter, we can also say that Captain Sanford Frank death is most probably on June 9th. His dead body might had been found when the US paratroopers pushed back the Germans from the Eastern side of the Merderet so on the June 12th, date he was declared Killed in Action.
He had been buried first in the temporary cemetery in Blosville (plot D-04-080) before being definitely buried in Colleville cemetery (plot E-16-35) where is resting in peace.
Sanford Frank is recipient of the Purple Heart as KIA. He left his wife Gertrude and his daughter La Rae (5 years), for our freedom.
For his tribute, he deserves the Requiem for a soldier:
You never lived to see
What you gave to me
One shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
With a host of brave unknown soldiers
For your company you will live forever
Here in our memory
In fields of sacrifice
Heroes paid the price
Young men who died for old men's wars
Gone to paradise
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you'll see - we can live together
When all the world is free
I wish you'd lived to see
All you gave to me
Your shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you'll see - we can live together
When all the world is free
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (www.storiesbehindthestars.org) . This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.
References
Phil Nordyke (All Americans All the way, p331), www.usairborne.be, www.airborneinnormandy.com, www.findagrave.com, www.myheritage.com With the personal assistance of Martin K.A. Morgan, historian (author of Down To Earth: The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Normandy ), Max de Lussac
La Fière Battle
Story location: Normandy, FranceStory date: 6 Jun 1944
Added by: maxdelussac
Company Commander - Co. C, 507th Parachute Reg., 82nd Airborne Division.
Combat Infantry Badge
Parachute Badge
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart - KIA D-Day Invasion
American Defense Service Medal
European Theater Medal with one bronze arrow head.
World War II Victory Medal
A wonderful story written by Maximilien de Lussac
Sanford Melvin FRANK was born on August 15, 1913 in Belfield, North Dakota, in Billings County, to parents Mr. and Mrs. John Adam Frank. His mother was German. Sanford graduated from high school and ended 3 years of college where he followed the ROTC program (Reserve Officer Training Corps) in North Dakota. On June 10th, 1938, he married Gertrude Haas (b. 1914, d. 2007) in Clackamas, Oregon. They had a daughter, LaRae Kay Frank (b. July 1939) and were living in Portland, Oregon in April 1940. He worked as a shipping clerk for the US War Department, working in a paper factory (according to the 1940 census). He enlisted in the US Army while residing in Portland.
He was originally a 1st Lieutenant of the 32nd Regiment, 7th Infantry division, training at Fort Ord (California) at the end of July 1941, where he was designated to fight in the Pacific theater. According to LaRae's mother, Sanford Frank had always wanted to become a pilot, but he failed the physical test because he did not have the 20-20 vision required and glasses were not allowed. So he decided to become a paratrooper so he could at least fly a lot. He was in charge of jump training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Airborne Command, Parachute School in early 1942. LaRae's mother told her that "he was most appreciated by all his men who thought he was one of the best officers ever. He jumped every chance he could get". He will soon jump on D-Day as company commander of C Company/507th PIR.
Captain Frank was transferred in England in the HQ Field Force Reserve Deposit, which sounds logical as he was in charge of the jump instruction of paratroopers and was not assigned to a combative unit. In April, 29th, 1944, Sanford Frank had been transferred to the HQ company, 2nd Battalion, 507th PIR. At this moment, C Company of the 507 PIR was commanded by Captain James F. Riecken who had unfortunately, been admitted to the 30th General Hospital in England on April 30th, 1944 due to an accident. On May 6th, Captain Sanford Frank served as interim company commander, although Captain Riecken still maintained his function where possible, set to return to his original post when healed. Capt. Riecken exited the hospital on May 28th, 1944 but, his wealth logically forbid him to jump for D-Day – he will be assigned to Service company in mid-June 1944 and will be placed back in command of C company/507th PIR in January 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge. But on D-Day in June 1944, it was Capt. Frank who led C Company into Normandy.
On June 6th, at 02h44, Capt. Frank's aircraft, a C-47 Dakota (tail number 43-15128, chalk #28, from the serial 26) piloted by Major John A. Crandell, leader of the 305th Troop Carrier Squadron of the 442nd TCG, was taking off from Fulbeck airport in England, as part of mission "Boston," within a group of 45 planes. Due to his officer rank of captain, Sanford Frank will be the first in order of the 16 paratroopers of his stick to jump into Normandy sky on the night of 5-6 June.
He most probably landed in the North-Western outskirts of the 507th PIR drop zone "T." This is known because of one paratrooper in his stick – Private John Katona (#11 in jump order) – had been killed by Germans right after landing in Hémevez (around 10 km NW from DZ "T").
Captain Frank was soon able to join Colonel Van Millett – the 1st battalion commander who will coordinate with various 507th officers to create a strategic plan. He worked with Capt. Allen Taylor, Capt. Paul Smith (F Co), Capt. Allyn (I Co) and Capt. Frank (C Co) to collect a group of 425 paratroopers in the west of Amfreville village. This group will attack this village which would have been a perfect advanced position of the front during La Fière and Chef-du-Pont bridges battle.
This large column of assorted paratroopers was soon beaten back out of the village by the 91st German division, which had previously surrounded the paratroopers. Colonel Van Millett decided to order a strategic retreat to a more defensive position in the East of Amfreville and Gourbesville for June 8th, in the evening.
You must imagine that one unique column of hundreds of paratroopers and 90 German prisoners was sneaking between German positions during this move.
Capt. Paul Smith, in charge of the rear part of this column will be stopped while neutralizing two MG42 machine guns. Lost and leading 150 paras and the 90 German prisoners, he will soon catch up with Captain Sanford Frank who saw that the rear part of the column was missing and waited for the rest of the men to rejoin them.
Captains Smith and Frank will never join Van Millett column as the Colonel will be captured by the Germans with some elements of his group.
Capt. Smith's column will reach a defensive position on the western side of the Merderet. Lieutenant-Colonel Maloney – in charge of 1st Battalion/507th during Van Millett's absence – asked him to keep this position to release the pressure on
Lieutenant-Colonel Timmes, who was currently locked up in the famous nearby orchards.
Another Lieutenant-Colonel from another regiment who was in Van Millett's column will soon join Capt. Smith's position and inform them that a big German force was coming to them. He will order the retreat of all paratroopers to the eastern side of the Merderet, despite Maloney's order and Capt. Smith protests.
This is the most epic part of Sanford Frank history.
I Let Pfc Floyd Leroy Stephens (I Company, 508th PIR) tell this story in a letter to Sanford Frank's mother:
"
Dear Mrs Frank,
I hardly know how to start this letter to you, I read today the 30th of May, the letter which you wrote to Kenneth Nielsen in January.
I knew your son only for a short time, in fact only for three days. On June the sixth, we jumped in Normandy behind the lines, that is where I met your son.
I can honestly say, he was one of the best officers that I ever knew. He gave his life so that the men with him could cross a river and get back in their own lines.
I was wounded at the same time but manage to get back to our own forces.
I am 21 myself and have been wounded three times since the 6th of June.
[…]
There are but two left who knew Captain Frank and we talk about him quite often.
Sincerely yours,
Floyd L. Stephens
"
Floyd Stephens had been declared Missing in Action on June 8th and was found in an aid station to have been wounded on June 10th. He most probably joined the aid station of the 505th PIR that Capt. Paul Smith is referring to in his testimony.
The river that Floyd Stephens is referring to is the Merderet as the "own lines" were on the western part of the Merderet and when looking at the Capt. Smith column walk, this is the only river around that separated the Germans to the US paratroopers.
When reading this letter, we can say that Sanford Frank had most probably been separated right before or after Capt. Smith order of retreat because according to Capt. Smith testimony, there were only German prisoners killed or wounded during his group retreat and the cross of the Merderet. If Capt. Frank was with him and had been killed in Capt. Smith column, he would most probably notice it and refer to it.
According to Floyd Stephens letter, we can also say that Captain Sanford Frank death is most probably on June 9th. His dead body might had been found when the US paratroopers pushed back the Germans from the Eastern side of the Merderet so on the June 12th, date he was declared Killed in Action.
He had been buried first in the temporary cemetery in Blosville (plot D-04-080) before being definitely buried in Colleville cemetery (plot E-16-35) where is resting in peace.
Sanford Frank is recipient of the Purple Heart as KIA. He left his wife Gertrude and his daughter La Rae (5 years), for our freedom.
For his tribute, he deserves the Requiem for a soldier:
You never lived to see
What you gave to me
One shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
With a host of brave unknown soldiers
For your company you will live forever
Here in our memory
In fields of sacrifice
Heroes paid the price
Young men who died for old men's wars
Gone to paradise
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you'll see - we can live together
When all the world is free
I wish you'd lived to see
All you gave to me
Your shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you'll see - we can live together
When all the world is free
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (www.storiesbehindthestars.org) . This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.
References
Phil Nordyke (All Americans All the way, p331), www.usairborne.be, www.airborneinnormandy.com, www.findagrave.com, www.myheritage.com With the personal assistance of Martin K.A. Morgan, historian (author of Down To Earth: The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Normandy ), Max de Lussac
La Fière Battle
Story location: Normandy, FranceStory date: 6 Jun 1944
Added by: maxdelussac
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Oregon.
