Franklin J. Royce, SN1, USN

MY FATHER FRANKLIN J. ROYCE WAS A SHIP FITTER, FIREFIGHTER AND HARD HAT DIVER ON THE USS SAN FRANCISCO. HE BOARDED THE SHIP SOMETIME IN 1939 AND WAS ON THE OGLALA WHILE THE SAN FRANCISCO WAS IN DRY DOCK AT PEARL ON DEC 7, 1941. HE WAS INJURED AND HIS PARENTS WERE NOTIFIED HE DIED IN ACTION THAT DAY. HOWEVER, HE WAS SENT TO MARE ISLAND WHERE HE RECOVERED AND REJOINED THE SHIP. HE ALWAYS BOASTED THAT HE FOUGHT IN EVERY MAJOR BATTLE IN THE PACIFIC AND IT APPEARS FROM THE SHIPS HISTORY THAT HE REALLY DID. LIKE MOST MEN AT PEARL HARBOR , HE ALWAYS FELT THAT HE WAS LIVING ON BORROWED TIME BECAUSE HE WAS A SURVIVOR OF THAT ATTACK. HE MANAGED TO BORROW A LOT OF TIME BECAUSE HE DIED AT AGE 80 IN APRIL 2002 IN KLAMATH FALLS , OREGON .. I AM A PROUD SON OF THIS NAVY HERO. HE NEVER COMPLAINED AND NEVER ASKED A THING OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR HIS SERVICE EXCEPT A HEARING AID.HIS HEARING WAS SEVERELY COMPROMISED FROM SO MANY DIVES AND LOUD UNDERWATER EXPLOSIONS AND NOISE. LIKE MOST NAVY MEN HE COULD SPIN A GREAT YARN. HE HAD A PET MONKEY ABOARD SHIP AND HAD MANY GREAT PICTURES FROM HIS TIME OF SERVICE. I DO HAVE HIS ORIGINAL NEPTUNES REALM CERTIFICATE FROM CROSSING THE EQUATOR AND HIS CARD HE CARRIED IN HIS WALLET WHEN HE MUSTERED OFF THE SHIP IN 1945.I ALSO HAVE SOME PICTURES OF HIM IN HAWAII AND A COUPLE OF THE SHIP. MOST OF HIS OTHER PICTURES WERE LOST. IF ANYBODY KNEW MY FATHER, I’D LOVE TO GET THEIR ADDRESS, PHONE OR EMAIL ADDRESS. IF I CAN, I WILL SEND COPIES FOR THE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION.

SINCERELY

Steven J. Royce