Francis served as a Technician Fifth Grade, 853rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Missouri prior to the war. He is also noted as being from Deaf Smith County, Texas on the "Honor List of Dead & Missing of World War II" at National Archives and may have a family tie to that state.

Francis was a passenger on the HMT Rohna.

The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177's. One of the 177's, piloted by Hans Dochtermann, released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.

1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.

Francis was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.

He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Service # 37494782

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

Francis served as a Technician Fifth Grade, 853rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Missouri prior to the war. He is also noted as being from Deaf Smith County, Texas on the "Honor List of Dead & Missing of World War II" at National Archives and may have a family tie to that state.

Francis was a passenger on the HMT Rohna.

The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177's. One of the 177's, piloted by Hans Dochtermann, released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.

1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.

Francis was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.

He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Service # 37494782

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )