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Last to survive remembers his squadron mates on Veterans Day

Family photo

Frank Carroll, front row, second from left, poses with his World War II squadron-mates.

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By JEFF SCHMUCKER

Hernando Today

Published: November 10, 2009

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Frank Carroll

WEEKI WACHEE - Frank Carroll is the last to survive.

At 85 years old, the U.S. Navy World War II veteran can look nostalgically at his large black and white photo and remember the time with his squadron mates and their time locating and bombing German submarines - among other adventures both death defying and humorous.

With those memories comes the realization every day that he has outlived them all, along with his wife, Marian.

But with so many fond memories, it's hard for Carroll to be sad for any length of time. Along with being a veteran, Carroll worked many jobs and professions throughout the 20th century as a graphic designer, professional photographer and even as a high school photography teacher - without a high school diploma of his own - to name a few.

He has photo albums full of photos of his four children, eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren - most of which were taken by Carroll.

And even with raising a family of his own, Carroll was mainly the one to stay in contact with his former squadron mates - and is still doing so in a way by writing and calling weekly, if not daily, to the family members of those he served with.

"Sometimes the worst thing is to call and get nothing, because there are times when that happens, it means that they died," Carroll said. "A lot of times if I don't get an answer, I write a letter and that's when someone will give me a call and tell me the news."

Born during the "Roaring 20s," Carroll said he joined the Navy soon after the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Before graduating from high school, he enlisted to serve his country.

"Times were different back then," Carroll said. "If you looked like you were 16 and looked old enough, people looked at you and would ask, 'Why aren't you in the service?' Back then everyone was very patriotic."

Since he couldn't swim, Carroll said he wanted to fly on planes and trained to use radar and to act as a gunner and shoot at enemy aircraft while flying overseas. His squadron was responsible for sinking at least 14 submarines.

Carroll said he and his wife lived together and happily raised their children throughout the five decades following the war. However, following his wife's death in 1993, Carroll decided his time of service wasn't yet finished. He received medical training in home health care and hospice to help take care of other war veterans and their families. Again, he still keeps in contact with those families to this day.

However, in 2005, his children were the ones to surprise him with his high school diploma through a military program to honor veterans who left high school without graduating to serve their country.

"I went up to my daughter's house thinking I was going to attend a sports award ceremony for my son," Carroll said. "I get up there and go to this thing and here they presented me with this diploma. They also had a cap and gown for me to wear and we took pictures. I was so surprised."

Surrounded by his photos and mementos of his past, Carroll said he has a lot to smile about. He still doesn't feel his age and believes he doesn't look it either - which he attributes to never smoking and living life to its fullest.

"It's all really just a frame of mind," Carroll said.

But with soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, Carroll said he gets emotional for those boys who, like he was at their age, are overseas fighting and is glad to see on Veterans Day so many television and community programs to support them in their time of war.

Reporter Jeff Schmucker can be reached at 352-544-5271 or jschmucker@hernandotoday.com.

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