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Service started: 23 May 1943
Unit(s): USS New Jersey (BB-62)
Service ended: 1 Jul 1945
Frank was born in Detroit, Michigan United States of America on October 24th, 1921 to Jan Hanba and his wife Mary Bonar - recent immigrants to America from Jasło County, Subcarpathian Voivodship, Poland.
He graduated from Cass Technical High School.
During the Second World War, Frank served as a Hospital Corpsman aboard the U.S.S. New Jersey (BB-62) in the Pacific Theater. As part of the original crew upon the ship's first 1943 commissioning and shakedown cruise, Frank was a "Plank Owner" - a point of pride he would never let you forget. The vessel and crew would go on to become one of the most decorated in the U.S. Navy and would serve as the flagship of the U.S. 3rd Fleet under Adm. Raymond Spruance and the U.S. 5th Fleet under Adm. William F. "Bull" Halsey.
Upon his return to the United States, Frank found employment as a Plumber.
He married Helen Sophia Rygiel in 1946, with whom he had 4 children: Frank, Lawrence, Daniel, and Marian.
The family lived in a house on Virgil Street in Dearborn Heights.
Frank and Helen moved to Canton, Michigan in 1987.
They subsequently moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2010 at the request of their daughter Marian.
Frank is remembered by his grandchildren for his mischievous sense of humor, love of Polish culture, and passionately Conservative Republican political views.
He passed away on July 8th, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States of America while in the company of his son Frank.
He was buried with full military honors next to his wife Helen in St. Hedwig's Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America.
Sources
- Theriault, Aaron. Personal recollection, 31 Mar 2023.
