SPC CRAIG S. FRANK
1775th Military Police Company
Spc.
Craig S. Frank, Age 24, of Lincoln Park, Michigan, died July 17, 2004
near Baghdad, Iraq, when his convoy vehicle hit an improvised explosive
device.
Frank was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 1775th Military Police
Company from Pontiac, Michigan
(http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20040719-1043.html)
Lincoln Park soldier, 24, killed
in Iraq ambush
Detroit Free
Press
(http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw101227_20040719.htm)
July 19, 2004,
1:43 AM
LINCOLN PARK, Mich. (AP) -- Army Spc. Craig S. Frank, a Michigan
National Guard military police officer, was killed in an ambush while
guarding a convoy traveling north of Baghdad, his mother says.
The 24-year-old was hit in the back with a rocket-propelled grenade as
his unit drove through Beiji, Linda Frank said Sunday. She said they
were escorting a convoy coming from Kuwait
"He never had a chance," she said.
The Department of Defense could not confirm his death Sunday. But
Frank's family said they received a call about it from an Army casualty
liaison officer on Saturday afternoon, and a major with the 210th
Military Battalion in Taylor came to their house that day to notify
them.
They said they were to meet with an Army public relations Monday to
craft a formal news release on his death.
Frank returned home to be with his father, who was undergoing
open-heart surgery. He was home June 10-July 3 before resuming duty in
Iraq.
He was in the second extension of duty in Iraq and was scheduled for
return to the United States on Aug. 11, the Detroit Free Press said. He
was serving with the 1775th Military Police Company out of Taylor.
Frank joined the military because he wanted to serve his country and to
help pay off student loans. He was studying education at Eastern
Michigan University.
"He didn't want to burden us with payments," said his father, Timothy
Frank
His mother described Frank as an avid reader, who took 15 books with
him when he went to Iraq.
"He would read anything that had words," said older brother Tim Frank.
"The guys would tease him and say they hadn't read 15 books in their
entire lives," his mother said.
While at home, Frank and five childhood friends -- all whom had joined
the military -- took pictures in their uniforms and talked about how
proud they were to serve.
"Here are the proofs, but we're still waiting for the prints to come
back," said friend Mike Hagerman.
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