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Battaglia, Frank P (F P)

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Identity
Person No.
38921
Service No.
728515
Last Name
First Name
Frank P
Initials
F P
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
24
Military Service
Rank
Trooper
Secondary Unit
3 Commando
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause of Death
Killed in action, at Kavalamanja, Zambia during Operatio Turmoil, by a ZIPRA machine gun nest
Grave Reference
Additional Information
Notes

He was an American citizen from Florida and New York City. He was a Vietnam veteran having served with the U.S. 173rd Airborne. One week after being casevaced wounded his platoon suffered a severe ambush. One week after tour of duty his other platoon suffered a severe ambush. Frank served a full contract with the Spanish Foreign Legion. He received a great honor there to carry the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a huge religious feast day parade. Frank came to Rhodesia with his wife, and went to SAS training troop. His wife joined the Rhodesian Air Force and worked packing parachutes. Later Frank would always check the parachute packing number and had jumped with a chute packed by his wife a few times. Frank after SAS training joined 1 RLI 3 Cdo 14 Troop. He was an avid poker player and gave some young Rhodesian soldiers poker lessons while playing for matches. ref. "Rhodesian Roll of Honour" by P. Geldenhuys (Roll compiled by Dr. J. R. T. Wood)

Citation

***Not yet accepted for War Grave Status by CWGC, need service file

External Source
Unknown
South African War Graves Project

southafricawargraves.org — record #38921