A Pearl Harbor survivor, former Navy band French horn player died earlier this week after an extensive career serving his country and volunteering in his community.
Chief Warrant Officer Francis “Frank” Emond passed away on Tuesday at 104 years old.
Full article, HERE from Military Times.
Stationed on the USS Pennsylvania, he was playing morning colors and watched the first bombs dropped on Ford Island.
There aren’t many survivors left, and I believe he was the oldest survivor. Rest in peace, Shipmate. Your legacy and the sailors you’ve touched have the watch.
A vanishing cohort.
Bugler, sound Taps.
At age 100, CWO-4 Francis “Frank” Emond was still attending memorial services in 2018 and 2019 as Guest Speaker and Guest of Honor respectively.
Here’s a video from one month ago, where at 104 years old, he broke his own Guinness World Record for the World’s Oldest Conductor: https://tinyurl.com/davfxak2
His obituary is here: https://tinyurl.com/jbzy77zz
Archived here: https://archive.is/nrJ6Y
A visitation & reception for Frank will be held Friday, January 20, 2023 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at Oak Lawn Funeral Home, 619 New Warrington Road, Pensacola, FL 32506. A funeral service will occur Friday, January 20, 2023 from 1:30 PM to 2:45 PM, 619 New Warrington Road, Pensacola, FL 32506. A graveside service will occur Friday, January 20, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM at Barrancas National Cemetery, 1 Cemetery Road, Pensacola, FL 32508.
Requiescat in pace, Frank.
One day the last of them will be gone and then it will be to the rest of us to keep the memory alive.
Rest In Peace.
What more can be said but “We salute you and thank you for keeping us free.” Rest in peace.”Amen.”
All of the WWII movies I watched as a kid featured John Wayne, Clark Gable, and Gregory Peck and company as heroic infantry, or heroic submarine commanders, or heroic pilots. I don’t recall any of them featuring heroic French horn players. But for every Hollywood-star role, there were a grillion men and women who Just Did Their Jobs.
The MAIN reason I was drawn to Brad Torgersen is because he wrote about a chaplain’s assistant. Yes, I was likely prejudiced because I was an Army medic, and I inspected mess halls.
Thank You, Lord, for all the men and women (like my first-born son) who served in the combat arms on the front line. We are so grateful for their sacrifices.
But today is R E D Friday (Remember Everyone Deployed), and we honor CWO Frank Edmond, who Just Did His Job, as a representative of ALL in that category.
Amen.
Peace be on your household.
Mess Check! “So that others might eat”
All- Thanks for the comments, and I echo your sentiments!
Rest in peace, shipmate: we have the watch.
Rev- Concur!
Salute.