Milton Lawrence Francis was a son of William Eugene Francis (25 September 1896-16 April 1987) and Corrie Ophelia Ramage Francis (20 June 1894-9 December 1970). Milton Lawrence Francis was serving on the submarine Grayback (SS 208) when it was lost at sea during February of 1944. Milton Lawrence Francis was officially declared dead by the United States Navy on January 12 1946.

The following information pertaining to the Grayback (SS 208) is from the Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center, 805 Kidder Breese SE, Washington Navy Yard,
Washington, DC 20374-5060.

The submarine Grayback (SS 208) under Commander J.A. Moore, left Pearl Harbor on 28 January 1944, to begin her tenth war patrol in the East China Sea east of the coast of Chekiang Province, China. She topped off with fuel at Midway, and departed from there on 3 February. On 12 February, she was sent orders to patrol the area running east and west between Luzon and Formosa from that date until sunset 20 February 1944, and then to proceed to her original area.

Grayback made her first report on 24 February in latitude 25°-14'N, longitude 122°-58'E, stating that she had sunk or damaged 44,000 tons of shipping thus far on her patrol. She had sunk a Tarayasu Maru class ship on 19 February and one of Tatsuta Maru class on 24 February, also damaging a freighter and tanker of unknown classes during the latter attack. She had five torpedoes left aft and one left forward.

The following day she reported from a position about 22 miles northeast of her former position, telling of new successes. She had fired four torpedoes aft, and had made three hits on two enemy freighters. When this message was received, she was ordered to return to Midway, and she was expected about 7 March 1944. Had she failed to receive this message and remained her full time on station she would have reached Midway about 23 March.

On 10 March, in an effort to establish her position, Grayback was requested to furnish information as to where she had found the best hunting. No answer was received, and on 30 March 1944, Grayback was reported as presumed lost. Commander Moore had been known for his conservative estimates of damage inflicted on the enemy, and at the time of the report concerning her loss, it was recommended that Grayback be credited with the claims made by him in his dispatches.

Rank: Motor Machinist's Mate, Third Class
Service Number: 07505117
Birth Date: October 6, 1923
From: Memphis, Tennessee
Decorations: Purple Heart
Submarine: USS Grayback (SS-208)
Loss Date: February 26, 1944
Location Near: 25° 47'N x 128° 45'E, south of Okinawa
Circumstances: Sunk by air attack

Milton Lawrence Francis was a son of William Eugene Francis (25 September 1896-16 April 1987) and Corrie Ophelia Ramage Francis (20 June 1894-9 December 1970). Milton Lawrence Francis was serving on the submarine Grayback (SS 208) when it was lost at sea during February of 1944. Milton Lawrence Francis was officially declared dead by the United States Navy on January 12 1946.

The following information pertaining to the Grayback (SS 208) is from the Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center, 805 Kidder Breese SE, Washington Navy Yard,
Washington, DC 20374-5060.

The submarine Grayback (SS 208) under Commander J.A. Moore, left Pearl Harbor on 28 January 1944, to begin her tenth war patrol in the East China Sea east of the coast of Chekiang Province, China. She topped off with fuel at Midway, and departed from there on 3 February. On 12 February, she was sent orders to patrol the area running east and west between Luzon and Formosa from that date until sunset 20 February 1944, and then to proceed to her original area.

Grayback made her first report on 24 February in latitude 25°-14'N, longitude 122°-58'E, stating that she had sunk or damaged 44,000 tons of shipping thus far on her patrol. She had sunk a Tarayasu Maru class ship on 19 February and one of Tatsuta Maru class on 24 February, also damaging a freighter and tanker of unknown classes during the latter attack. She had five torpedoes left aft and one left forward.

The following day she reported from a position about 22 miles northeast of her former position, telling of new successes. She had fired four torpedoes aft, and had made three hits on two enemy freighters. When this message was received, she was ordered to return to Midway, and she was expected about 7 March 1944. Had she failed to receive this message and remained her full time on station she would have reached Midway about 23 March.

On 10 March, in an effort to establish her position, Grayback was requested to furnish information as to where she had found the best hunting. No answer was received, and on 30 March 1944, Grayback was reported as presumed lost. Commander Moore had been known for his conservative estimates of damage inflicted on the enemy, and at the time of the report concerning her loss, it was recommended that Grayback be credited with the claims made by him in his dispatches.

Rank: Motor Machinist's Mate, Third Class
Service Number: 07505117
Birth Date: October 6, 1923
From: Memphis, Tennessee
Decorations: Purple Heart
Submarine: USS Grayback (SS-208)
Loss Date: February 26, 1944
Location Near: 25° 47'N x 128° 45'E, south of Okinawa
Circumstances: Sunk by air attack