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Solidiers from two different generations share war stories
The 88-year-old Bronx native is sharply attired in navy blue dress pants and a sky blue collared shirt. His hair is combed neatly to one side. Frank speaks slowly and quietly- but he still knows how to crack a timely joke. Across town at a coffee shop, Brian Kiely, 23, talks about his love for computers and the latest technology. Kiely, who was born in Blaine, Minn., zips through the newest video games like a hot knife through butter, trying them all before they become overly familiar. Looking at Frank and Kiely, one couldn't tell both are veterans who served in the United States Army. They come from different backgrounds and almost different worlds, but they're united in their love for and loyalty to their country. And they've both earned Bronze Stars for meritorious achievement in the line of duty.
From the beaches of France . . . Frank was part of the second wave of American soldiers to land on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Frank, who served in the 2nd Infantry Division, the same division currently operating in Iraq, was a radio operator for the 38th Field Artillery Battalion. On the clear morning of April 15, 1945, near Rippach, Germany, Frank and his company met heavy fire from German forces. Thirty American infantrymen in the company lost their lives during the fight, but Frank continued giving updates on his radio until the Germans destroyed the radio while it was still in his hands. An official report by CaptJohn Brunm detailed Frank's heroics, which helped him earn a Bronze Star.
Of three radios Frank had in the war, two were blown to smithereens, while the antenna was clipped on a third. Remarkably, in nine months of intense action, Frank didn't suffer any serious injuries. "In one spot outside Bastogne (in Belgium), I found myself in a ditch," said Frankwho's lived in Simi Valley for the past four years after living in Los Angeles since 1958. "I looked up, and a German tank's muzzle was looking at me. But he never fired. Another time somewhere in France- it had been raining the day before- a mortar shell landed right in front of me, but it never went off." "Lots of close calls," said his daughter-in-law, Leslie Frankwho is principal at Sinaloa Middle School. How did he survive? "I don't know," Jules Frank said with an incredulous laugh"I don't understand it." . . . to the deserts of Iraq Sgt. Kiely is on reserve duty for the time being, but he spent most of 2006 in Iraq as part of 426 Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) with the Army. "We are the link between the military and civilians," Kiely said of his work in the civil affairs unit. An Iraqi father came to Kiely, pleading with the American soldier to help his dying sonAbdel. Abdel, 2 years old at the time, had vein blockage in his heart. Kiely found a pediatrician and was able to get the young boy X-rays, MRIs and various other tests to properly diagnose Abdel's condition. Kiely then orchestrated the next step: getting Abdel a flight to the United States for the necessary surgery. The 2002 Santa Susana High School graduate earned a Bronze Star for his role in saving Abdel's life. Kiely talked with families daily, settling disputes or distributing goods or just trying to put the locals more at ease. "We handed out mostly flour and sugar," said Kiely, a business consultant for the Apple store in Simi Valley Town Center. "Kids loved Beanie Babiessoccer balls, chocolate. "Our main effort is to help rebuild the country. If a civilian had issues and we weren't therethat could possibly grow into an insurgence." Kiely's battalion may be deployed to another destination in the future, but he couldn't say when, where or if he'll go. Either way, Kiely always wants to offer a helping hand. Since he was 3, Kiely wanted to be a police officer, and last week he began testing for the Simi Valley Police Department. . . .and back to Simi Valley On Sunday, Frank and Kiely will reflect on why Veterans Day is important. Although their thoughts aren't exactly the same, they both stressed the brotherly bond between soldiers. They stressed the importance of soldiers, of veterans. "You've been through some of the happiest moments in life and some of the worse moments in life," Kiely said. "In many ways, they become like family." World War II veteran Frank, who worked in the dry cleaning business with his father for much of his life, never celebrated victory over the Axis powers. "We were just glad to get it over with. We could walk around and say we're still alive," he said. "It's that old phrase, 'War is hell.'" There was no parade, just a long boat ride from England to Fort Dix, N.J., where he arrived on Oct. 6, 1945, the date of separation. Frank tries to keep in touch with his fellow band of brothers- he was commander of the Jewish War Veterans for California- but since there isn't a local chapter, he gets updates from the magazine The Jewish Veteran. More and more of his friends from the war have died, but Frank wants Veterans Day to be a time to remember all veterans, past and present. "The attitude of most people is, 'He's a veteran? So what?' But veterans from years ago, from World War II, hold a deeper respect," Frank said. "A veteran is a volunteer and should be treated well. You shouldn't step all over them or push them to the side. It's a different world, it's a different time." But his message remained upbeat. "Veterans Day, in a sense, is thinking of other people, helping other people," Frank said. "It's about maintaining your religion and maintaining your friendship with people." |
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