William J. Franks

Franks, a former Philadelphia resident, was killed while on a search-and-destroy mission near Lam Dong, South Vietnam, on Feb. 25, 1967, The Army rifleman, assigned to company B of the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, exposed himself to heavy enemy fire when his platoon came under attack and, noticing his fire was ineffective, he charged the enemy position, firing as he ran. Even after being wounded, Franks got to his feet and fired again. A second wound was fatal. The 2O-year old private first class was post humously awarded the Silver Star. Franks graduated from a Milwaukee high school in 1965 and began active duty in January 1966.