I am searching for information about Col. Stanley, Frank A.
He was a Colonel in the 326 Eng HQ. Does anyone has more information about this officer and his time in service? He served with the 101st and 82nd Airborne Division's in WWII and Korea. Does he apprear in any 326th after action reports? I am not really sure when he served with the 326th? Thanks in advance for any information.
Daan, Welcome to the forum. I have never heard of a Lt. Colonel Frank A. Stanley in the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion. The only colonel that existed during the war was Lt. Col. John Pappas, who was killed on June 13, 1944 outside of Carenten, France and his replacement was Major Hugh A. Mozley, a man loved by the Engineers. What is confusing about the 326th in the 101st is that there is the 326th AEB and the 326th Airborne Medical Company, which cared for the wounded. During the seige of Bastogne, 140 men of the 326th AMC were captured at Crossroads X, leaving the 101st with a severe shortage of medical supplies and medics. Later, gliders would bring in replacement medics and supplies.
Thanks for your reply. What is interesting about this is that the Lt.Col is listed in the P.M. Pulles rosters. I don't know if you have heard of these rosters before? In those rosters he is listed in the '101 HQ + Supp. Units' book.
Stanley, F.A. - COL - 326 Eng HQ - O-
So he must been in that unit during WWII, but the question is, when? Could he been assigned to an other unit, and therefor not show up in any 326 AEB reports or something like that? Maybe I've got more information soon, I'll keep this post updated. Thanks so far for your help.
Daan, I sent out the other day an e mail to Sue & Joe Crilley, Joe being the ranking officer of the 326th AEB today (WWII). They live in Pennsylvania but in the summer time have a home in Nova Scotia. This maybe be the time they are returning to their American home and they take their time visiting places and people. So it may be a bit before I hear anything. Just to keep you updated.
Daan, Sue Crilley e mailed today and said Joe does not recall that name. Now the strange thing about this Pulles Roster, is they have him listed in the 326th AEB. Well. as far as I know the battalion was commanded by Major Hugh Mozley up until it was deactivated in November, 1945. One other thing, Joe was the commander of Charlie Company and you are saying Stanley was in the Headquarters Company, so it is possible he didn't know him, but why would Stanley have a higher rank than Mozley and not be the commander? Also, according to "Rendezous With Destiny" the most officers in the 326th AEB during the war was 39, but Joe is near 90 so his memory maybe lacking and it is possible that he just doesn't remember him, but the rank puzzles me.
Well maybe he wasn't a Colonel during WWII (perhaps an Lt. or Capt)? He also served in the Korean war and they may have hold on to his last rank in the Pulles rosters? It's quite interesting though, I'll see if I can find more information about this.
Perhaps I have some more information soon, I'll keep you updated.
Daan, Maybe you are right that his highest rank was given to him after his military service. The 101st was deactivated after World War II. In the mid 1950's President Eisenhower reestablished the division and they were used in Little Rock, Arkansas to quell racial unrest there. Later the Screaming Eagles would play a major role during the Vietnam War. Generals Maxwell Taylor and William Westmoreland were both former commanders of the 101st. Almost twice as many Eagles were killed in Vietnam than World War II in combat. That is not including the men who died from Post Dramatic Stress Disorder or Agent Orange, which was anybody's guess on how many died from these causes.
Daan, Just want to update about Frank Stanley. I talked with Ray "Ike" Eisenhauer who was a Lt. in Charlie Company of the 326th AEB during WWII. He didn't know any Stanley and also said a man I know who was in Headquaters/326th was in bad shape. He did give me another number of another officer also in Charlie Company and I will see if that develops into anything.