|
Franklin W. COLWELL
| |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||
| NUMBER OF SERVICE | 36019904 | ||||||
| AGE | 27 yo | ||||||
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1917 ILLINOIS | ||||||
| ETAT | Tuscola Piatt County ILLINOIS | ||||||
| FAMILY | Married to Laura Son: Michael | ||||||
| RANK | Staff Sergeant | ||||||
| FONCTION | Infantry Man | ||||||
| JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT | Butcher |  | |||||
| DATE of ENLISTEMENT | 14 April 1941 Chicago ILLINOIS | ||||||
| COMPANY | Company I | ||||||
| REGIMENT | 262nd Infantry Regiment | ||||||
| DIVISION | 66th Infantry Division "Black Panther Division" | ||||||
| DATE OF DEATH | 24 Décembre 1944 |  | |||||
| STATUS | MIA | ||||||
| PLACE OF DEATH | Aboard in USS Léopoldville, In Manche(Channel), off Cherbourg | ||||||
| CEMETERY | NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY from Colleville Map Normandy American Cemetery | ||||||
| GRAVE |
| ||||||
| DECORATION |
| ||||||
|
| |||||||
| STORY | |||||||
|
In December 1944 during a night guard at Garrison Franklin had frozen feet. Franklin was put on sick leave. When his unit took the road to Leopoldville. Franklin was not supposed to go up first because his wounds were not yet fully healed. Franklin insisted on embarking with his men ... He marries Laura who gave birth to a son Michael shortly before the sinking of Leopoldville.
| |||||||
|
Arrived on November 26th, 1944 in England, the division polishes up its training until December 24th In the daytime of the departure and the crossing towards France and Normandy. The division embarks on two ships of which the SS Leopoldville which receives 262th and 264th regiment Infantry and leaves Southampton in training(formation) accompanied with four escort ships. Arrived unless 5 miles from Cherbourg, a German submarine U-Boat 486 is in ambush and sends a torpedo to the ship. He is touched on the starboard beam before. 802 soldiers over the 2235 which he(it) transported are killed in this drama. Leopoldville is marine cemetery today. | |||||||
See History of Leopoldville (Click on the picture) 
| SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTO | Clive TIRLEMONT - Frédéric LAVERNHE - Leopoldville.org |
|---|---|
| PROGRAMMER | Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud |