THE WALL OF FACES

Petty Officer Third Class William Thomas Franke, Served with the Public Works Division, United States Naval Support Activity (DaNang), United States Naval Forces Vietnam (USNAVFORV).

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POSTED ON 7.29.2022

POSTED BY: John Fabris

honoring you...

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. We should be forever thankful for the sacrifices of you and so many others to ensure the freedoms we so often take for granted.

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POSTED ON 11.19.2019

POSTED BY: [email protected]

Ground Casualty

EO3 William T. Franke was an Equipment Operator and CMC Joseph Nemeth Jr. was a Chief Construction Mechanic. Both men were assigned to Public Works, Naval Support Activity, Da Nang. On Christmas Day 1968, they were at the China Beach Rest and Rehabilitation Center in Da Nang when each of them was critically injured. Nemeth reportedly fell and suffered a cerebral concussion. He died seven days later on January 1, 1969, at Naval Support Activity Station Hospital in Da Nang. Franke was injured in a swimming accident where he reportedly broke his neck. He was medically evacuated to the United States and died on February 20, 1969, at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, from complications of pneumonia. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vvmf.org; Nemeth’s obit is courtesy of Katy Currence at Coffee County Lannom Library in Tullahoma, TN; Franke’s is from Stacey Costantino at Gloucester County Historical Society, Woodbury, NJ]

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POSTED ON 10.9.2018

POSTED BY: Lucy Micik

Thank You

Dear EO3 William Franke,
Thank you for your service as an Equipment Operator 3rd Class. It was just Columbus Day, and another national holiday has arrived. It has been too long, and it's about time for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

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POSTED ON 6.22.2014

POSTED BY: Tom Burgdorf

Circumstances of his death

Petty Officer William T. Franke was a member of the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He was from Williamstown and was one of 11 children born to Al and Wanda Franke.

The Franke family had a tradition of military service. Al and Wanda served in World War II, as did four of Franke’s siblings during the Vietnam War.

When Franke arrived in Vietnam, his brother Albert, “Buddy”, was already there in Da Nang. They saw each other frequently. When Buddy left Vietnam on Dec. 23, 1968, and while en route back to the states, the family received word that Franke had been wounded and was being flown to the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. When he arrived on Jan. 14, 1969, the family learned the horrible truth.

Franke had not been wounded but had broken his neck in a diving accident. Water had filled his lungs giving him pneumonia, causing him to lose the use of one lung and damaging the other lung to the point that he would have to stay on a breathing machine. The doctors said that he would live only a week or two. Franke passed away on Feb. 20, 1969.

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