Eugene Delano Franklin

 

Captain Eugene Delano Franklin

Captain Franklin was born in August, 1933 in Bristol, Tennessee. He graduated from Tennessee High School and enrolled in East Tennessee State University in 1951. He graduated in August 1955 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.

Captain Franklin’s first duty station was Fort Benning, GA. His other duty assignments were Fort Carson, CO; Fort Polk, LA; Fort Bragg Language School; the Presidio of Monterey, CA Language School.

From California, he went to Vietnam in January 1965, where he served as Captain of the 1st BN, 45th Infantry Regiment (ARVN) MACV Advisors. He was on ground about 11 days and was injured when the American barracks was attacked by the Viet Cong. This earned him his first Purple Heart. He returned to duty shortly thereafter working and serving as a military advisor and worked along with his Vietnamese counterparts. On June 24, 1965, while on a mission, the unit was heavily ambushed and attacked by the Viet Cong. Captain Franklin was killed during this attack.

At a special ceremony presented by East Tennessee State University, Captain Franklin was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star, and his second Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf Cluster. He was also awarded three Vietnamese awards and the Combat Infantry Badge. The awards were presented due to Captain Franklin’s extraordinary heroism while serving as an advisor.

Captain Franklin was married in 1955 to the former Marian Williams. They have two children, Jeanne Lynn Franklin and Jim Wray Franklin.

A life cut short, all too soon!