Bill writes about: Torrance, CA

PVT Perry Franklin-POW-Funeral-by-Germans

His last thoughts

The article in the Torrance Herald of Thursday, January 25, 1945, was brief: Next to his photo, it read: “MISSING IN ACTION…Sgt. Perry Franklin, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Gossiaux, 1640 W. 219th Street, has been declared missing in action since December 24. With a tank destroyer company, he has been in action in France, Germany, and Belgium since ‘D’ day….” Private (not Sergeant) Franklin was serving with C Company, 807th Tank Destroyer Battalion, when his unit was...
Ucla Royce Quad 1940s Lrg
Ucla Royce Quad 1940s Lrg
Ucla Royce Quad 1940s Lrg
Ucla Royce Quad 1940s Lrg
Ucla Royce Quad 1940s Lrg
Ucla Royce Quad 1940s Lrg
Ucla Royce Quad 1940s Lrg
Ucla Royce Quad 1940s Lrg

The World War II Dead of University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)

More than 260 UCLA students, faculty  and alumni were killed in World War II; only Harvard University suffered more casualties.  As a two-time graduate of UCLA, I was honored to research every one of their stories in order to memorialize their sacrifices, their humanity, and their often heroic last acts. A summary of how and where they died provides a snapshot of the American military experience in World War II. My files consist of many hundreds of pages of military service records,...
ArthurThomasParker 12

“Character Excellent”

Arthur Thomas Parker had a short career in the Marine Corps.  Due to his age (he was born in Texas on November 11, 1924), he needed his father to sign a permission form for him to enlist.  His father, Willis M. Parker, signed the consent document December 26, 1941, three weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  Unlike many of his fellow Marines, Parker was a high school graduate, and had completed one semester in college.  Under the “hobbies” section of his enlistment form, he...
6 Installation Complete
6 Installation Complete
6 Installation Complete
6 Installation Complete

Three men among many who died from Torrance, CA

Torrance, CA has been my hometown for many years. The City of Torrance created a memorial to the war dead of our city, which has a partial list of names of our citizens who died in wars ranging from World War I to the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Among the many heroes of Torrance who gave their lives in our nation’s wars, here are stories of three of them who ultimate sacrifice in World War 2. I've researched many others and will share more in the days and weeks to come. 2nd LT...