William Joseph Franks

For the British astronomer, see William Sadler Franks.
William Joseph Franks
Born 1830
Pittsboro, North Carolina
Died April 18, 1880
Independence County, Arkansas
Place of burial Maple Springs Cemetery, Batesville, Arkansas
Allegiance United States of America
Union
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1863 - 1865
Rank Acting Master's mate
Unit USS Marmora (1862)
Battles/wars American Civil War
Awards Medal of Honor

William Joseph Franks (1830 – April 18, 1880) was a United States Navy sailor who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the American Civil War.

Biography

Franks was born in Pittsboro, North Carolina in 1830. He enlisted in the Navy on September 16, 1863.

Franks distinguished himself in action at Yazoo City, Mississippi on March 5, 1864 when he and his shipmates from the USS Marmora (1862) landed a 12-pound howitzer to defend the city, which was threatened by strong Confederate forces. He and his group were in the thickest of the fighting, but it was never enough to drive them from their cannon. The actions of Franks and his men came to play the most important role in maintaining the Union position. Franks received the Medal of Honor and was promoted to Acting Master's Mate in recognition of his actions. Two of his shipmates, Seaman James Stoddard and Seaman Bartlett Laffey, were also awarded the medal for being on the gun crew.[1][2]

Franks was discharged from the Navy in August 1865, and settled in Arkansas. [3]

He married Mary Francis in 1865, after his separation from the Navy; according to the 1880 Federal census, they had five children.[4]

William J. Franks died in April 1880 and is buried in Maple Springs Cemetery in Batesville, Arkansas. [5]

Namesake

A Fletcher-class destroyer, USS Franks (DD-554), was named in his honor and launched on December 7, 1942.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1830, Chatham County, N.C. Entered service at: Duvalls Bluff, Ark. G.O. No.: 32, April 16, 1864.

Citation:

Served on board the U.S.S. Marmora off Yazoo City, Miss., 5 March 1864. Embarking from the Marmora with a 12-pound howitzer mounted on a field carriage, Franks landed with the gun and crew in the midst of heated battle and, bravely standing by his gun despite enemy rifle fire which cut the gun carriage and rammer contributed to the turning back of the enemy during the fierce engagement.

See also

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
  1. ↑ "Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients (A–L)". Medal of Honor Citations. United States Army Center of Military History. December 3, 2010. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients (M–Z)". Medal of Honor Citations. United States Army Center of Military History. December 3, 2010. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  3. ↑ http://www.mohhsus.com/lost-to-history
  4. ↑ 1880 Federal Census for Town of Christian, Independence County, Kansas.
  5. ↑ findagrave.com http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=FRA&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=4&GScntry=4&GSsr=2761&GRid=39193013&
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