2Lt Frank F Mercer Biography

Second Lieutenant Frank Floyd Mercer

World War II

US Marine Corps
1st Regiment 1st Marine Division
Service Number:
Born: September 11, 1918, Fort Morgan
Inducted: March 5, 1942
Platoon Leader's Course: August 25, 1943
Killed in action: September 28, 1944, Bloody Nose Ridge, Peleiu, Palau Islands
Buried: Riverside Cemetery, Fort Morgan -
Section N, Block 1, Lot 21.

Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf Cluster

Son of Roscoe L. and Bertha F. Mercer of Rago.

Frank Mercer Stone Photo by Arlene Glenn

Thursday November 2, 1944 The Akron News-Reporter

Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Mercer, who reside on a farm southwest of Akron, received the tragic news last Thursday that their son Lieut. Frank F. Mercer, had been killed in action with the U.S. marine corps on Palau Island. Palau is in the Southwest Pacific, about 400 miles east of the Philippine Islands.

Notification from the war department was brief and carried no particulars of the death of the former Akron boy. It notified the parents that he was temporarily buried on the island.

Frank was born in Washington county, was graduated from the Akron high school with the class of 1935 and later attended Colorado State A&M college at Fort Collins.

He joined the marine corps reserve and after being allowed to complete his college education and getting his degree about two years ago, he went into active service with the marines, after his basic training.

Less than a year ago, he was transferred into the South Pacific and had seen considerable action before his untimely death on Palau.

He is survived by his parents and one sister, Miss Maxine, who is employed in California.

Thursday November 16, 1944 The Akron News-Reporter

Memorial services for Lieu. Frank F. Mercer will be held Sunday afternoon at the Presbyterian Church in Brush. Lieut. Mercer lost his life recently on Palau island in the south Pacific. Frank, the son of Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Mercer of Akron, was a member of the marine corps reserve. He was a graduate of Akron High School and Colorado State A&M College at Fort Collins.

Thursday November 30, 1944 The Akron News-Reporter

Lieut. Frank Floyd Mercer was born September 11, 1918 at Fort Morgan. Colorado, and grew to manhood on a ranch southeast of Brush in the Rago community, attending high school at Akron and graduating with the class of 1935. Later he graduated from the Hollywood Sound Institute.

After four years at home, he entered Colorado A&M College at Fort Collins, where he was prominent, receiving his degree in animal husbandry.

In his junior year, he earned the honor of a trip to Chicago, a guest for ten days of the Chicago Union Stockyards Company.

He was a member of Alpha Zeta, honorary agricultural fraternity; of Tri Beta, honorary biological society, and was a member of the senior livestock judging team, winning the champion showmanship at the Little International.

Lieut. Mercer readily made lasting friendships, was loved and respected by all who knew him. To know him was to love his quiet, unassuming and happy nature.

White he was yet a small boy, he gave his heart to Christ, was baptized and was always faithful to his Sunday school.

While still a student in college, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, receiving his lieutenancy at Quantico, Virginia August 25, 1943, after previous training at Parris Island, South Carolina.

He left the states in January, 1944 and was with the marine amphibious corps on New Caledonia until May, 1944. After that, he was unable to state where he had been moved, but his loved ones' letters were always filled with cheer and comfort.

He gave his life for God and his country on Peleliu in the Palau Islands. His life was a life of service.

He leaves to mourn his loss, his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Mercer; his sister, Maxine Mae, who is in defense work in San Diego, California; his fiancee, Miss Louise Williams of Kansas City, whom he met at college in Fort Collins, besides a host of relatives and friends.

October 21, 1948 Akron News-Reporter

Services Held for Former Washington County Marine

Funeral services for Lieut. Frank F. Mercer, former Akron boy, were held at the Joliffe funeral home in Fort Morgan Wednesday morning of this week with the Rev. John P. Flemmer of Brush officiating.

The body arrived in Fort Morgan Tuesday evening. Lieut. Mercer was killed in action on September 19, 1944, during the invasion of Peleiu Island in the South Pacific, about 400 miles east of the Philippines. The remains were buried there temporarily.

Sagebrush post of the American Legion at Brush and the National Guard will have charge of the commitment ceremonies at Riverside cemetery in Fort Morgan.

Lieut. Mercer was a member of Company G, 2nd Battalion of the First Marines.

He had lived in Washington county most of his life and was graduated from the Akron high school with the class of 1935. While attending high school here he was employed part-time at the News-Reporter office and was a very conscientious and energetic worker.

He enlisted in the U.S. Marines on March 5, 1942, while attending Colorado A&M college at Fort Collins, but graduated in 1943 before he reported to the officers' candidate school at Parris Island, S.C.

He was sent overseas in January, 1944 to New Caledonia then to Russell Island for beach landing practice in preparation for the invasion of Peleiu Island. He was killed on the fourth day of the invasion.

Lieut. Mercer was born in Fort Morgan Sept. 11, 1918 and is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Mercer of Brush, and one sister, Mrs. Maxine Emerson, who resides on a farm south of Akron.

Notes:

Lt. Mercer's photograph is from the Service Record Book of Men and Woman of Akron, Colorado and Community, published by the Alva N. Graves Post of the American Legion.

Newsclippings donated by Arlene Glenn.