Familial History
Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco was born 15 January 1915 in Otis, Eddy County, New Mexico to Antonia Gonzales and Jesus Montoya Franco. He died 25 December 1944 when the SS Leopoldville was sunk by the German U-486 about 5 miles from the coast of France. His family resided in Loving, Eddy County, New Mexico prior to the war.
He married Rosa Segura. She was born 22 August 1922 in Loving, New Mexico to Estanidlad Duran and Geronimo Segura. She died 15 March 1993 in Carlsbad, New Mexico and laid to rest in the Carlsbad Cemetery. The Plot was Division L. Block 15, and the Memorial #64743394.
Antonia Gonzales was born in Texas 1869 to Lupe Malandrez and Ferman Gonzalez. She passed away 15 February 1928 in Otis, New Mexico.
Jesus Montoya Franco was born in Texas in March 1873 to Juana Deandra Montoya and Pedro Franco. He died 17 July 1935 in Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico. He married Antonia in Reeves, Texas on 10 February 1896.
The Franco union produce 10 children composed of 5 daughters and 5 sons. Their names are listed in chronological order with corresponding birth and death dates: Vicenta Gonzales Franco (1896-Unknown); Juan Gonzales Franco (8 February 1899-12 January 1965); Eliza Gonzales "Alice" Franco Martinez (1902-Unknown); Conception Gonzales "Chona" Franco Chavez (8 December 1902-10 August 1949); Cruz Gonzales Franco (14 September 1906-3 March 1950); Eusevia Franco (1910-Unknown); Manuel Gonzales Franco (5 June 1911-1 December 1978); Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco; Julian Julio Franco (12 April 1917-10 January 1966); and Felice Gonzales Franco Gonzalez (18 May 1919-4 January 1970).
Service History:
Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco registered for the draft 16 October 1940 in Loving, New Mexico. He was working for the US Potash Company. His uncle, Francisco Franco signed as the next of kin.
He enlisted in the US Army 5 February 1942 at Fort Bliss, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas. Pablo had completed grammar school, and was married.
After basic training, he was attached to H Company, 262nd Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division, US Army and his Service Number was 38071611.
The 66th was activated 15 April 1943 in Camp Blanding, Florida and later transferred to Camp Robinson, Arkansas. They completed the regiment during field training. The Division were sent to Camp Rucker, Alabama for transport to the European Theatre of Operations. They arrived on 12 December 1944 and trained until 24 December 1944, when they were ordered as replacements. They boarded two Belgian steamships, the Chesire and the Leopoldville.
He was aboard the troopship SS Leopoldville when it was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel on Christmas Day 25 December 1944. Prior to the conflict, the SS Leopoldville was a Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo passenger liner. The German submarine U-486 was credited with the sinking. As a result, 763 soldiers died and 56 of the Leopoldville's crew.
The ship sailed from Southampton, England to Cherbourg, France as part of the WEP-3 convoy. The loading of the 2,223 reinforcements from the 262nd and 264th Regiments was chaotic. The troopships were not loaded by Regiment and many of the officers were not present. The instructions for abandoning ship, use of life savers, and supervised lifeboat drills were minimal at best. The abandon ship order was given in Flemish rather than English.
The original explosion was in Cargo Hold 4 which flooded E-4, F-4, and G-4 compartments. An estimated 300 men were killed by the blast and flooded holds. The English Channel was experiencing swells of 8 feet to 12 feet in height which hampered UMS Brilliant's attempts to rescue soldiers on ship and in the water. 493 bodies of the 763 casualties were never recovered from the 48 degree waters.
Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco was memorialized in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France. His Plot was the Tablets of the Missing, and the Memorial # 56644638. The US WWII Hospital Admission Card stated that he died in the line of duty.
Commendations:Purple Heart
Stories Behind the Stars:Thank you, Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco of the US Army, for your sacrifice and service to our country.
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII Fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen' s name and read his/her story.
If you noticed anything missing in this profile, you can contact the author, Click on the author's name located at the bottom of the story page next to the words "added by".
The author is Dr. Jack W. Chisum, and the email is [email protected].
Resources:
Photos of Victims U-Z - Leopoldville Troopship Disaster
SS Léopoldville (1928) - Wikipedia
SS Leopoldville - Picture - Image - Photo (shipwreckworld.com)
Memorials in Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial - Find a Grave
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial - Wikipedia
Pablo G Franco in US, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1914-1950 - Fold3
PFC Pablo G Franco (1915-1944) - Find a Grave Memorial
Pablo G Franco : Private First Class from New Mexico, World War II Casualty (honorstates.org)
In Memorium - Leopoldville Troopship Disaster
PFC Pablo G. Franco (militaryhallofhonor.com)
Company H (database-memoire.eu)
Plablo G. Franco (American) - Crew lists of Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net
Ajoutée par jchisum370
Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco was born 15 January 1915 in Otis, Eddy County, New Mexico to Antonia Gonzales and Jesus Montoya Franco. He died 25 December 1944 when the SS Leopoldville was sunk by the German U-486 about 5 miles from the coast of France. His family resided in Loving, Eddy County, New Mexico prior to the war.
He married Rosa Segura. She was born 22 August 1922 in Loving, New Mexico to Estanidlad Duran and Geronimo Segura. She died 15 March 1993 in Carlsbad, New Mexico and laid to rest in the Carlsbad Cemetery. The Plot was Division L. Block 15, and the Memorial #64743394.
Antonia Gonzales was born in Texas 1869 to Lupe Malandrez and Ferman Gonzalez. She passed away 15 February 1928 in Otis, New Mexico.
Jesus Montoya Franco was born in Texas in March 1873 to Juana Deandra Montoya and Pedro Franco. He died 17 July 1935 in Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico. He married Antonia in Reeves, Texas on 10 February 1896.
The Franco union produce 10 children composed of 5 daughters and 5 sons. Their names are listed in chronological order with corresponding birth and death dates: Vicenta Gonzales Franco (1896-Unknown); Juan Gonzales Franco (8 February 1899-12 January 1965); Eliza Gonzales "Alice" Franco Martinez (1902-Unknown); Conception Gonzales "Chona" Franco Chavez (8 December 1902-10 August 1949); Cruz Gonzales Franco (14 September 1906-3 March 1950); Eusevia Franco (1910-Unknown); Manuel Gonzales Franco (5 June 1911-1 December 1978); Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco; Julian Julio Franco (12 April 1917-10 January 1966); and Felice Gonzales Franco Gonzalez (18 May 1919-4 January 1970).
Service History:
Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco registered for the draft 16 October 1940 in Loving, New Mexico. He was working for the US Potash Company. His uncle, Francisco Franco signed as the next of kin.
He enlisted in the US Army 5 February 1942 at Fort Bliss, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas. Pablo had completed grammar school, and was married.
After basic training, he was attached to H Company, 262nd Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division, US Army and his Service Number was 38071611.
The 66th was activated 15 April 1943 in Camp Blanding, Florida and later transferred to Camp Robinson, Arkansas. They completed the regiment during field training. The Division were sent to Camp Rucker, Alabama for transport to the European Theatre of Operations. They arrived on 12 December 1944 and trained until 24 December 1944, when they were ordered as replacements. They boarded two Belgian steamships, the Chesire and the Leopoldville.
He was aboard the troopship SS Leopoldville when it was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel on Christmas Day 25 December 1944. Prior to the conflict, the SS Leopoldville was a Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo passenger liner. The German submarine U-486 was credited with the sinking. As a result, 763 soldiers died and 56 of the Leopoldville's crew.
The ship sailed from Southampton, England to Cherbourg, France as part of the WEP-3 convoy. The loading of the 2,223 reinforcements from the 262nd and 264th Regiments was chaotic. The troopships were not loaded by Regiment and many of the officers were not present. The instructions for abandoning ship, use of life savers, and supervised lifeboat drills were minimal at best. The abandon ship order was given in Flemish rather than English.
The original explosion was in Cargo Hold 4 which flooded E-4, F-4, and G-4 compartments. An estimated 300 men were killed by the blast and flooded holds. The English Channel was experiencing swells of 8 feet to 12 feet in height which hampered UMS Brilliant's attempts to rescue soldiers on ship and in the water. 493 bodies of the 763 casualties were never recovered from the 48 degree waters.
Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco was memorialized in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France. His Plot was the Tablets of the Missing, and the Memorial # 56644638. The US WWII Hospital Admission Card stated that he died in the line of duty.
Commendations:Purple Heart
Stories Behind the Stars:Thank you, Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco of the US Army, for your sacrifice and service to our country.
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII Fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen' s name and read his/her story.
If you noticed anything missing in this profile, you can contact the author, Click on the author's name located at the bottom of the story page next to the words "added by".
The author is Dr. Jack W. Chisum, and the email is [email protected].
Resources:
Photos of Victims U-Z - Leopoldville Troopship Disaster
SS Léopoldville (1928) - Wikipedia
SS Leopoldville - Picture - Image - Photo (shipwreckworld.com)
Memorials in Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial - Find a Grave
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial - Wikipedia
Pablo G Franco in US, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1914-1950 - Fold3
PFC Pablo G Franco (1915-1944) - Find a Grave Memorial
Pablo G Franco : Private First Class from New Mexico, World War II Casualty (honorstates.org)
In Memorium - Leopoldville Troopship Disaster
PFC Pablo G. Franco (militaryhallofhonor.com)
Company H (database-memoire.eu)
Plablo G. Franco (American) - Crew lists of Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net
Ajoutée par jchisum370
Familial History
Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco was born 15 January 1915 in Otis, Eddy County, New Mexico to Antonia Gonzales and Jesus Montoya Franco. He died 25 December 1944 when the SS Leopoldville was sunk by the German U-486 about 5 miles from the coast of France. His family resided in Loving, Eddy County, New Mexico prior to the war.
He married Rosa Segura. She was born 22 August 1922 in Loving, New Mexico to Estanidlad Duran and Geronimo Segura. She died 15 March 1993 in Carlsbad, New Mexico and laid to rest in the Carlsbad Cemetery. The Plot was Division L. Block 15, and the Memorial #64743394.
Antonia Gonzales was born in Texas 1869 to Lupe Malandrez and Ferman Gonzalez. She passed away 15 February 1928 in Otis, New Mexico.
Jesus Montoya Franco was born in Texas in March 1873 to Juana Deandra Montoya and Pedro Franco. He died 17 July 1935 in Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico. He married Antonia in Reeves, Texas on 10 February 1896.
The Franco union produce 10 children composed of 5 daughters and 5 sons. Their names are listed in chronological order with corresponding birth and death dates: Vicenta Gonzales Franco (1896-Unknown); Juan Gonzales Franco (8 February 1899-12 January 1965); Eliza Gonzales "Alice" Franco Martinez (1902-Unknown); Conception Gonzales "Chona" Franco Chavez (8 December 1902-10 August 1949); Cruz Gonzales Franco (14 September 1906-3 March 1950); Eusevia Franco (1910-Unknown); Manuel Gonzales Franco (5 June 1911-1 December 1978); Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco; Julian Julio Franco (12 April 1917-10 January 1966); and Felice Gonzales Franco Gonzalez (18 May 1919-4 January 1970).
Service History:
Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco registered for the draft 16 October 1940 in Loving, New Mexico. He was working for the US Potash Company. His uncle, Francisco Franco signed as the next of kin.
He enlisted in the US Army 5 February 1942 at Fort Bliss, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas. Pablo had completed grammar school, and was married.
After basic training, he was attached to H Company, 262nd Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division, US Army and his Service Number was 38071611.
The 66th was activated 15 April 1943 in Camp Blanding, Florida and later transferred to Camp Robinson, Arkansas. They completed the regiment during field training. The Division were sent to Camp Rucker, Alabama for transport to the European Theatre of Operations. They arrived on 12 December 1944 and trained until 24 December 1944, when they were ordered as replacements. They boarded two Belgian steamships, the Chesire and the Leopoldville.
He was aboard the troopship SS Leopoldville when it was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel on Christmas Day 25 December 1944. Prior to the conflict, the SS Leopoldville was a Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo passenger liner. The German submarine U-486 was credited with the sinking. As a result, 763 soldiers died and 56 of the Leopoldville's crew.
The ship sailed from Southampton, England to Cherbourg, France as part of the WEP-3 convoy. The loading of the 2,223 reinforcements from the 262nd and 264th Regiments was chaotic. The troopships were not loaded by Regiment and many of the officers were not present. The instructions for abandoning ship, use of life savers, and supervised lifeboat drills were minimal at best. The abandon ship order was given in Flemish rather than English.
The original explosion was in Cargo Hold 4 which flooded E-4, F-4, and G-4 compartments. An estimated 300 men were killed by the blast and flooded holds. The English Channel was experiencing swells of 8 feet to 12 feet in height which hampered UMS Brilliant's attempts to rescue soldiers on ship and in the water. 493 bodies of the 763 casualties were never recovered from the 48 degree waters.
Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco was memorialized in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France. His Plot was the Tablets of the Missing, and the Memorial # 56644638. The US WWII Hospital Admission Card stated that he died in the line of duty.
Commendations:Purple Heart
Stories Behind the Stars:Thank you, Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco of the US Army, for your sacrifice and service to our country.
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII Fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen' s name and read his/her story.
If you noticed anything missing in this profile, you can contact the author, Click on the author's name located at the bottom of the story page next to the words "added by".
The author is Dr. Jack W. Chisum, and the email is [email protected].
Resources:
Photos of Victims U-Z - Leopoldville Troopship Disaster
SS Léopoldville (1928) - Wikipedia
SS Leopoldville - Picture - Image - Photo (shipwreckworld.com)
Memorials in Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial - Find a Grave
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial - Wikipedia
Pablo G Franco in US, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1914-1950 - Fold3
PFC Pablo G Franco (1915-1944) - Find a Grave Memorial
Pablo G Franco : Private First Class from New Mexico, World War II Casualty (honorstates.org)
In Memorium - Leopoldville Troopship Disaster
PFC Pablo G. Franco (militaryhallofhonor.com)
Company H (database-memoire.eu)
Plablo G. Franco (American) - Crew lists of Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net
Ajoutée par jchisum370
Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco was born 15 January 1915 in Otis, Eddy County, New Mexico to Antonia Gonzales and Jesus Montoya Franco. He died 25 December 1944 when the SS Leopoldville was sunk by the German U-486 about 5 miles from the coast of France. His family resided in Loving, Eddy County, New Mexico prior to the war.
He married Rosa Segura. She was born 22 August 1922 in Loving, New Mexico to Estanidlad Duran and Geronimo Segura. She died 15 March 1993 in Carlsbad, New Mexico and laid to rest in the Carlsbad Cemetery. The Plot was Division L. Block 15, and the Memorial #64743394.
Antonia Gonzales was born in Texas 1869 to Lupe Malandrez and Ferman Gonzalez. She passed away 15 February 1928 in Otis, New Mexico.
Jesus Montoya Franco was born in Texas in March 1873 to Juana Deandra Montoya and Pedro Franco. He died 17 July 1935 in Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico. He married Antonia in Reeves, Texas on 10 February 1896.
The Franco union produce 10 children composed of 5 daughters and 5 sons. Their names are listed in chronological order with corresponding birth and death dates: Vicenta Gonzales Franco (1896-Unknown); Juan Gonzales Franco (8 February 1899-12 January 1965); Eliza Gonzales "Alice" Franco Martinez (1902-Unknown); Conception Gonzales "Chona" Franco Chavez (8 December 1902-10 August 1949); Cruz Gonzales Franco (14 September 1906-3 March 1950); Eusevia Franco (1910-Unknown); Manuel Gonzales Franco (5 June 1911-1 December 1978); Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco; Julian Julio Franco (12 April 1917-10 January 1966); and Felice Gonzales Franco Gonzalez (18 May 1919-4 January 1970).
Service History:
Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco registered for the draft 16 October 1940 in Loving, New Mexico. He was working for the US Potash Company. His uncle, Francisco Franco signed as the next of kin.
He enlisted in the US Army 5 February 1942 at Fort Bliss, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas. Pablo had completed grammar school, and was married.
After basic training, he was attached to H Company, 262nd Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division, US Army and his Service Number was 38071611.
The 66th was activated 15 April 1943 in Camp Blanding, Florida and later transferred to Camp Robinson, Arkansas. They completed the regiment during field training. The Division were sent to Camp Rucker, Alabama for transport to the European Theatre of Operations. They arrived on 12 December 1944 and trained until 24 December 1944, when they were ordered as replacements. They boarded two Belgian steamships, the Chesire and the Leopoldville.
He was aboard the troopship SS Leopoldville when it was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel on Christmas Day 25 December 1944. Prior to the conflict, the SS Leopoldville was a Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo passenger liner. The German submarine U-486 was credited with the sinking. As a result, 763 soldiers died and 56 of the Leopoldville's crew.
The ship sailed from Southampton, England to Cherbourg, France as part of the WEP-3 convoy. The loading of the 2,223 reinforcements from the 262nd and 264th Regiments was chaotic. The troopships were not loaded by Regiment and many of the officers were not present. The instructions for abandoning ship, use of life savers, and supervised lifeboat drills were minimal at best. The abandon ship order was given in Flemish rather than English.
The original explosion was in Cargo Hold 4 which flooded E-4, F-4, and G-4 compartments. An estimated 300 men were killed by the blast and flooded holds. The English Channel was experiencing swells of 8 feet to 12 feet in height which hampered UMS Brilliant's attempts to rescue soldiers on ship and in the water. 493 bodies of the 763 casualties were never recovered from the 48 degree waters.
Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco was memorialized in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France. His Plot was the Tablets of the Missing, and the Memorial # 56644638. The US WWII Hospital Admission Card stated that he died in the line of duty.
Commendations:Purple Heart
Stories Behind the Stars:Thank you, Pfc Pablo Gonzales Franco of the US Army, for your sacrifice and service to our country.
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII Fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen' s name and read his/her story.
If you noticed anything missing in this profile, you can contact the author, Click on the author's name located at the bottom of the story page next to the words "added by".
The author is Dr. Jack W. Chisum, and the email is [email protected].
Resources:
Photos of Victims U-Z - Leopoldville Troopship Disaster
SS Léopoldville (1928) - Wikipedia
SS Leopoldville - Picture - Image - Photo (shipwreckworld.com)
Memorials in Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial - Find a Grave
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial - Wikipedia
Pablo G Franco in US, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1914-1950 - Fold3
PFC Pablo G Franco (1915-1944) - Find a Grave Memorial
Pablo G Franco : Private First Class from New Mexico, World War II Casualty (honorstates.org)
In Memorium - Leopoldville Troopship Disaster
PFC Pablo G. Franco (militaryhallofhonor.com)
Company H (database-memoire.eu)
Plablo G. Franco (American) - Crew lists of Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net
Ajoutée par jchisum370
Bio by: Frogman
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from New Mexico.
Other Records
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