Frank Elgin Alexander
Signalman, Third Class
Age: 27
Birthplace: Elyria, Ohio
Marital status: Single
Acknowledgements: Robert Barrington; Wendy L. Ridgway, Jill Bryant, Diane Alexander, second cousins, Cindy Leise, The Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH
Frank Elgin Alexander was born on January 15, 1915 in Lorain, Ohio, son of Lena (Slater) and John Henry Alexander. His mother was deceased at the time of his enlistment.
He enlisted at Navy Recruiting Station, New York, New York on August 9, 1940 for six years to learn a trade. He received his recruit training at Naval Training Station, Newport, Rhode Island, after which he was assigned to Submarine Training School, New London, Connecticut where he graduated on January 13, 1941. His first submarine was the training submarine U.S.S. O-2 (SS-63), where he advanced to the rating of Seaman First Class and then to Signalman Third Class. In March of 1942, he transferred to Submarine Base New London, Connecticut for the fitting out of the U.S.S. Grunion. He remained on board at her commissioning on April 11, 1942.
Frank’s cousin Bob Berrington, of Reno, NV, said that he always remembered his cousin as being kind, funny, friendly, and that “He spoke highly of the crew and their faith in one another.” Frank must have been an adventuresome young boy. Enlistment record reveals he was in custody for half a day for riding on a freight train!
A memorial marker for Frank was placed in Elmwood Cemetery, Lorain, Ohio.
Copyright © 2012 Mary Bentz. All Rights Reserved.