Pharmacist Mate 2/c Frank Cermak served on the submarine S-17. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/479966/frank-cermak https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_S-17_(SS-122) |
Frank Cermak never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on May 11, 1918 in Illinois. His parents Stanley and Josephine were born in Bohemia and Illinois, respectively. All four grandparents were from Bohemia. His father worked as a fireman and later as a hardware store shipping clerk. Frank had one older sister, one younger sister and one younger brother. By 1940 Frank had completed four years of high school and was living with his family while working as a clerk.
He enlisted in the Navy on January 28, 1942. He became a pharmacist mate second class on the submarine S-17. Too old for service in major war zones, S-17 was stationed out of New London, Connecticut beginning in September 1942.
On December 21, 1943 Seaman Cermak was attempting to pass a life ring to a shipmate when he was swept off of the submarine deck and drowned.
His grave is at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas.
RICHARD FEYNMAN
Richard Feynman, who became one of the greatest physicists of all time, was also born on May 11, 1918. He was born in New York. His parents were Lithuanian Jews. He was a mathematical wunderkind who went to college at MIT, graduating in 1939. He went to Princeton to get a doctorate in physics.
Recognized as a genius, Feynman was invited to join the Manhattan Project where he played an important role in designing the atom bomb.
https://www.atomicheritage.org/profile/richard-feynman |
Last year on this date I profiled Lauren Williams, 77th Infantry Division. You can read about Lauren here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
Your information on Frank Cermak is incorrect. His parents were Anton and Bessie Cermak, had one sister Mary. His was a common name, maybe that is the reason for the confusion. I provided this picture so am certain for the information.
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