25 Mar 2008 "Gene" wanted to be a soldier as a very young lad. During WWII he would go to bus and train stations to collect patches from the sleeves of returning military. He had a very large collection from many who would take the patches off their uniforms on the spot. He went on to get his commission from East Tenn State College (now University) Gene enjoyed life, and loved to sing and joke around. He loved his family - me his wife and our two children, Jeanne and Jimmy. Gene felt that Vietnam was a worthwhile cause and I am sure if God had given him a choice of dying there for his country or coming him and dying some other way this would have been his choice. Love ya "babe", Marian From his wife and widow, Marian Williams Franklin Simpson marian1@cox.net

 

Headquarters US Army, Pacific Honolulu, Hawaii 11 August 1965 GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 255 AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS 1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously. Eugene Delano FRANKLIN, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army American Advisor, 1st Battalion, 45th Infantry Regiment, 23d Infantry Division (ARVN) Awarded: Distinguished Service Cross Date action: 24 June 1965 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Eugene Delano Franklin, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. On 24 June 1965, Captain Franklin was serving as Senior Advisor to the 1st Battalion, 45th Infantry Regiment, 23d Infantry Division, army of the Republic of Vietnam, whose mission was to locate and destroy a hostile contingent which had earlier seized a civilian convoy. As the 1st battalion proceeded in convoy along National Highway 21, they were ambushed by a well-concealed and strategically located Viet Cong unit which had secured control of over two miles of the highway and neighboring terrain. Immediately upon receiving the initial barrage of hostile mortar, automatic weapons, and small arms fire, Captain Franklin, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, moved forward to locate hostile positions and evaluate the over-all situation. After personally accounting for the destruction of two insurgent positions, he moved among the friendly troops, giving advice, encouragement, and accurate fire direction guidance. After achieving a stabilization of his forces, Captain Franklin rallied the embattled battalion to move forward, take the offensive, and dislodge the hostile force from their tactically superior positions. As Captain Franklin moved forward with the maneuver elements of the attacking friendly force, he was mortally wounded by a hail of hostile fire which had been directed towards his advanced position for more than forty-five minutes. Captain Franklin's extraordinary heroism, gallantry in action, and supreme sacrifice were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 9 July 1918.

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