Staff Sergeant Frank W. Light, Jr, 35790099 KIA
Staff Sergeant Frank W. Light, Jr, 35790099 US Army KIA. He was born on August 22, 1924, the son of Frank Light and Caroline Kelbel Light, of Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated from North College Hill High School in Cincinnati, and then attended Lake Forest College where he took part in the ASTP Program. He entered the US Army on February 20, 1943 at the age of 18. He Served in Company F, 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96th Infantry Division, on both Leyte and Okinawa. He was Killed in action near Yuza Okinawa on June 19, 1945 at the age of 20.
“It is with deep regret that I inform you of the death of your son, Frank W. Light, Jr, on 19th of June while in action against the enemy south of Yuza, Okinawa Island. His death came as a great shock to the officers and men of this organization. “Our company had captured some of the high ground on the Yuza Dake escarpment and we had pushed forward about 500 yards before night fall of June 18. At this point we dug in a defensive position and placed a heavy guard around our area. The enemy bitterly contested our advance and during the early morning of June 19th they attempted to infiltrate our lines. As soon as they were detected there began a heavy exchange of rifle and machine gun fire, and it was during this fighting that Frank was hit and instantly killed. ‘Frank joined this company soon after leaving A.S.T.P. in March 1944. He soon made many friends among the officers and men throughout the regiment with his splendid personality and excellent character. During the Leyte campaign Frank’s performance of duties was outstanding, and here on Okinawa he had done excellent work. He had won the confidence of his men by his fine leadership and courage. His loss is being felt by us. Cledith W. Bourdeau, Captain, Commanding”
Sergeant Frank W. Light was awarded the Purple Heart Medal (PHM), The Bronze Star Medal (BSM), The Combat Infantry Badge (CIB), The American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (PTO), The Good Conduct Medal, and the World War Two Victory Medal. Expert M1 Rifle Badge, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 Stars. He was interned at Arlington Memorial Gardens in Mount Healthy, Ohio, in 1949.
1- LAKE FOREST COLLEGE WORLD WAR Two MILITARY RECORDS
2- U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963
3- https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=35790099&bc=sd&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=6047707
4- North College Hill High School Yearbook
5- the 1930 United States Federal Census