Frank C. Murtha

Per a MR from 4 Aug 1944 Frank was reported MIA. On the 5 Aug 1944 MR Frank was reported KIA. My great grandmother Mary (Frank's Mother) received a letter from J.B. Lovless, Lt. Col., Infantry Commanding stating Frank was killed in action while engaged in combat with the enemy. It also stated Cpl Frank was held in the highest regard by all members of the command. The Lt. Col. said he was as splendid soldier and his exemplary action in combat was an inspiration to his fellow soldiers.

Also per his death file he died from a puncture to his back. Per the letter from Lt. Col. Lovless my uncle joined the 23rd on 27 July 1942, but I have a copy of the Monthly Personnel Roster dated Feb 28 1941 Company H 23D Infantry in Fort Sam, TX. Per this roster Cpl Frank enlisted Jan 21, 1941. Per MR Jul 1942 Cpl Frank moved to Hq & Hq Co 2nd Bn 23rd Inf. Regt. Frank was aptd Cpl Aug 2, 1942. per MR. In November 1942 Cpl Frank and the rest of the Regt moved to Camp McCoy for more training. In Oct 1943 Cpl Frank set sail for destination unknown at the time. Cpl Frank trained in Northern Ireland until April 1944 where they arrived in South Wales. Cpl Frank and the others boarded the SS Exchecquer in South Wales. They traveled to the shores of Omaha Beach on 7 June 1944 where they disembark and boarded a LCI to the Omaha Beach Head. I don't know of any friends or fellow soldiers.

My great Uncle was unmarried when he was drafted. My grandfather enlisted and he never heard from his brother Frank again. The one letter that has survived all these years was dated 30 July 1944. Frank doesn't talk about any fellow soldiers. It is a sad letter when you think about it. Frank will be gone only 5 days later. I never knew Frank. He was my grandfather's younger brother, but my grandfather and Frank were inseparable growing up. They use to play baseball with Tom Rooney in Pittsburgh, PA. Yes the very family that owns the Pittsburgh Steelers. The were called the Three Musketeers because they were always together. Tom Rooney was drafted and was KIA by sniper fire in the Pacific Campaign in the battle of Guam. Frank and grandfather also had a nephew Francis J. Weakland that DOW 18 Jan 1945. Many many years later when I was a child I tried to ask my Grandfather about his participation in WW2 but he would never talk to me about it. He would just say he was there and that was it. Fast forward to October 2025. The federal government is shut down and I found that I had a lot of time on my hands. My family drove up to Harrisburg, PA to visit my father when he and my husband started talking about my Pap who was apart of the 3rd Armored Division during WW2. I started taking notes so I could research more when I returned home. After a few days I obtained a good amount of information when I turned my attention to Great Uncle Frank and the rest is history.

I found the Men of the 2nd Infantry Division on FB, this website, searched and searched the National Archives, and then stumbled upon the WW2 museum in New Orleans. There I paid a very small fee for any information about Cpl Frank J Murtha. I received more information than I could ever imagine to be honest. All though Frank's military folder burned in the fire of 1973 his death file survived. This was information my family did not have. Well any current living relative anyway. I still don't know the circumstance surrounding my great uncle's death outside he died from a puncture to his back. He was reported MIA for 23 hours before he was reported KIA. I know now why my grandfather never wanted to talk about his participation in WW2. What was supposed to be a wonderful home coming turned into a horrible nightmare. Frank, Francis, and Tom all were killed and my great grandfather died 2 weeks after he found out his son Frank was KIA. My grandfather found all this out the day he stepped off the plane in Fort Mead, MD and arrived at his brother's home in Alexandria, VA. So I don't have any wonderful stories about Frank. Just that he loved to play baseball, enjoyed being a young boy running around with is older brother and Tom and served his country to the very best of his ability.