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I just learned of Franks passing last night. I first met him when he was in-processing 1/505th as a 2LT. I was the S2 NCO at the time. Lt's come and LT's go... but a 2LT with multiple rows of ribbons and Master Wings (?). So we talked for a while. He went to lead a Mortar Plt first, but made his mark as the Bn Sct Plt Ldr. In that position he was somehow chosen as "Outstanding Lieutenant of the Year" for the 82nd Abn Division. (Like anyone else stood a ghost of chance?) As we were prepping for the MFO deployment/startup we spent a LOT of time on the ranges. At the grenade range one day a frag went off early... about three feet from the SFC's right hand who threw. His right hand was gone. The young Sgt who was the safety in the pit with him looked like a collander (the Sgt's words not mine). On seeing the injury the young medic for the range went 'combat ineffective' almost instantly. Frank stepped in and took charge. Both the SFC and young Sgt lived, if Frank had not been there..... He then lead the Scout Platoon for the MFO Deployment. One major contribution his boys made was the confirmation of the Israeli minefields that were still in place and confirmation that live mines can/will drift down wadi's with floods. That doubled the size of mined areas to be cautious of. I have no doubt that saved more than a few lives. LTC (later MG) Garrison, though a bachelor himself then, made damn sure that Frank was on the first plane load of folks redeploying back to CONUS. His fifth (?) child was due to be born. Because of his service, he had not been there for the previous four. So the Bn Cdr and XO were ready to move heaven and earth to ensure that he was there for that. I left the Battalion in December after we returned from Sinai.
I next ran across Frank at Fort Benning where he was attending the Inf Officer Advanced Course. He was a Captain, not sure if he ended up with C/1/505 from CPT (later MG) Gary Harrell (SP?) or another officer.
Since retiring I have said that in my tenure in the Army that "I walked with giants". Frank Closen was one of them, one of the taller and quieter giants. The world is a lesser place without him.
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