Sgt Franklin W. Colwell was from Tuscola, Illinois.
In April 1941, he was drafted in the United States Army and was later assigned to the 262nd Infantry Regiment of the 66th Infantry Division. On December 25, 1944, Sgt Colwell was on the Léopoldville with more than 2000 soldiers of the division when one of two torpedoes launched by U-486 hit the ship.
While stationed in England during December 1944, one night on guard duty, his feet became so frozen that he was placed on medical leave. When his company left for the Leopoldville, he was not supposed to leave with them because his feet had not fully healed. He insisted on going with his troops, however, and was returned to full duty. His wife, Laura, gave birth to his son, Michael, shortly before the sinking.
Of the 2,235 American servicemen on board, approximately 515 are presumed to have gone down with the ship. Another 248 died from injuries, drowning, or hypothermia.
The body of Sgt Franklin W. Colwell was never found. His name is engraved on the wall of missing for eternity.
In April 1941, he was drafted in the United States Army and was later assigned to the 262nd Infantry Regiment of the 66th Infantry Division. On December 25, 1944, Sgt Colwell was on the Léopoldville with more than 2000 soldiers of the division when one of two torpedoes launched by U-486 hit the ship.
While stationed in England during December 1944, one night on guard duty, his feet became so frozen that he was placed on medical leave. When his company left for the Leopoldville, he was not supposed to leave with them because his feet had not fully healed. He insisted on going with his troops, however, and was returned to full duty. His wife, Laura, gave birth to his son, Michael, shortly before the sinking.
Of the 2,235 American servicemen on board, approximately 515 are presumed to have gone down with the ship. Another 248 died from injuries, drowning, or hypothermia.
The body of Sgt Franklin W. Colwell was never found. His name is engraved on the wall of missing for eternity.
Sgt Franklin W. Colwell was from Tuscola, Illinois.
In April 1941, he was drafted in the United States Army and was later assigned to the 262nd Infantry Regiment of the 66th Infantry Division. On December 25, 1944, Sgt Colwell was on the Léopoldville with more than 2000 soldiers of the division when one of two torpedoes launched by U-486 hit the ship.
While stationed in England during December 1944, one night on guard duty, his feet became so frozen that he was placed on medical leave. When his company left for the Leopoldville, he was not supposed to leave with them because his feet had not fully healed. He insisted on going with his troops, however, and was returned to full duty. His wife, Laura, gave birth to his son, Michael, shortly before the sinking.
Of the 2,235 American servicemen on board, approximately 515 are presumed to have gone down with the ship. Another 248 died from injuries, drowning, or hypothermia.
The body of Sgt Franklin W. Colwell was never found. His name is engraved on the wall of missing for eternity.
In April 1941, he was drafted in the United States Army and was later assigned to the 262nd Infantry Regiment of the 66th Infantry Division. On December 25, 1944, Sgt Colwell was on the Léopoldville with more than 2000 soldiers of the division when one of two torpedoes launched by U-486 hit the ship.
While stationed in England during December 1944, one night on guard duty, his feet became so frozen that he was placed on medical leave. When his company left for the Leopoldville, he was not supposed to leave with them because his feet had not fully healed. He insisted on going with his troops, however, and was returned to full duty. His wife, Laura, gave birth to his son, Michael, shortly before the sinking.
Of the 2,235 American servicemen on board, approximately 515 are presumed to have gone down with the ship. Another 248 died from injuries, drowning, or hypothermia.
The body of Sgt Franklin W. Colwell was never found. His name is engraved on the wall of missing for eternity.
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