The Lost, Last Letter
A VMSB-231 SBD over Guadalcanal, late 1942.
Frank Christen grew up on a Depression-Era farm just outside of tiny Jerseyville, Illinois, graduating from the high school there in 1938 at age 19. He scraped enough together to continue his education at Washington College in St. Louis, then transferred to the University of Texas at Austin. In June 1941, he enlisted in the USNR and was accepting into the flight training program. He learned to fly at Grand Prairie, Texas and graduated the following year from NAS Corpus Christi on May 20, 1942. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and assigned to VMSB-142, a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombing squadron.
While at the University of Texas, Frank had met Ruth Clark of Corning, New York. He and Ruth were married on July 30, 1942 just before he was assigned to NAS Coronado in San Diego. The couple lived…
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Posted on June 23, 2015, in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. 20 Comments.
Pacific Paratrooper 
What a story. I am continually surprised by the information that can come to light from such obscure places. I hope members of Ruth or Frank’s family can be found.
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It wouldn’t be from the lack of people trying, that’s for sure. Thank you for visiting, Hilary.
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Fascinating story, can only hope that the story does have a happy ending, with his descendants knowing he died a hero.
There must be thousands of untold story’s behind every MIA.
Very informative reading.
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For interest gp
https://mail.google.com/mail/?tab=wm#inbox/14e326817bab4927
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Thanks for liking my Mum’s (Chris’s) post about meeting my Dad on It was always sunny. Sad times.
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No problem, it was very moving, Anabel.
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Amazing story. I hope family are located.
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Wouldn’t that be something else!!?!
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That would be a great blessing.
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😉
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Hello there! I just wanted to say that you have an incredible blog, and that I find your content insightful, refreshing, and apt!
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Thank you.
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Amazing first hand report. What he probably went through and a shame his wife didn’t get that last letter.
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Fate had a hand in this.
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What a sad tale GP. I felt myself becoming quite emotional as I got to the end. I hope that some family still living can get some comfort from this, and that they don’t find it too hard to bear.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I feel the same way, Pete. Thanks for getting through it.
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What a choker, gp
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And so many more of them out there or lost to history, eh, Derrick? I, myself, can’t handle too many of them.
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I’m not surprised
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