Francis "Frank" Anthony Koenigsman was born December 9, 1926 at the family farm built by his Grandfather Anton Koenigsman four miles due east of Tipton, Mitchell County, Kansas.  He was the first of Edward Baptist and Veronica Susan (Lutgen) Koenigsman’s twelve children, nine of whom survived to adulthood.  Frank grew up during the Great Depression, attended School and St. Boniface Catholic Church in Tipton, graduating early from high school in December, 1944 so he could join the war effort.

 

After the war, Frank took advantage of the G.I. Bill and attended Business College in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska, where he met beautiful Theresa JoAnn Stobbe.  JoAnn told the story that she often went to local dances with her older sisters since she was only 17 and when she first saw Frank, she said "he's the one".  She was right.  They married on November 17, 1947 and together raised six children.  Frank passed away on December 16, 2004 and JoAnn followed less than a year later on November 1, 2005.

Frank filled out his Application for Enlistment to the U.S. Navy on Saturday, December 2, 1944 at the U.S. Naval Recruiting Station (USNRS/s.) in Salina, Saline County, Kansas and then travelled to the USNRS at Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri on December 4th where he officially entered into Active Service in the U.S. Naval Reserve (USNR, V-6) with the rate of Apprentice Seaman (AS).  Since this was just before his 18th birthday, his father Edward had to accompany Frank to Salina to sign an Age Certificate and Parent Consent form.  Just two days after enlisting, Frank was in Great Lakes, Lake County, Illinois on December 6, 1944 attending Basic Recruit Training at the U.S. Naval Training Center (USNTC).

Within a month of his arrival at the USNTC, Frank contracted scarlet fever and was admitted to the McIntire Dispensary on January 1, 1945.  The following letter was sent to his folks to inform them of his illness, and request they not come to see him while he is sick, since he will not be allowed visitors.

During Basic, Frank received a course in Fire Fighting and also qualified as Rifle Marksman. On Saturday, February 24th, 1945, Frank graduated Basic Recruit Training and was promoted to rate Seaman 2nd Class (S2C).  The U.S. Navy publication "The Bluejackets' Manual", issued to all naval personnel, describes the duties of a Seaman as "Know naval drill duties, knots, steering and signaling.  Stand watch and gunnery duties."  According to the website "Summary of Ranks and Rates of the U.S. Navy" and the "The Bluejackets' Manual", Frank’s monthly pay increased from $50/month as an Apprentice Seaman (Grade 7) to $54/month at the S2C rate (Grade 6).

 

Upon graduation, Frank was awarded 11 days Recruit leave (Feb 24 to Mar 7, 1945) and probably traveled back home to Kansas for a short visit.

On March 21, 1945, Frank received orders transferring him to the U.S. Naval Training School (NAVTRASCOL) at the U.S. Naval Training Center in Gulfport, Harrison County, Mississippi (now the "Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport") for a Radioman Course of Instruction.  Frank arrived on Thursday, March 22, 1945 to begin his 20 week of training.  "The Bluejackets' Manual" states a Radioman's duties are "Transmit and receive radio messages.  Encipher and decipher messages."

Upon his graduation on Saturday, August 11, 1945, Frank had attained a final mark of 80.77, was ranked 59th out of the 86 men in his class, and was promoted to Seaman 2nd Class – Radio Man "S2C (RM)".