PFC Frank McNabb
Frank R. McNabb, my father-in-law, was a true hero and certainly one of my 
heroes. I became engaged to his daughter Mary in the fall of 1966. I told her that I would like to meet her father before our wedding. She agreed, so we planned a trip to Galveston, Texas, where he lived. A stop in Dallas at my brother’s house was included so there would be no raised eyebrows about our travels together before the wedding. (Left, Ronnie Troy in 1960)
Arriving at Mickey’s (as he was known) home, we were greeted with venison sausage and a cold beer which was right up my alley. After the first beer Mickey offered me another beer, which I readily accepted. Upon placing the second beer in front of me, he asked his wife and daughter to leave us alone for a while.
Thinking to myself, “This is what I made the trip for so let’s get at it.” Mickey looked me in the eye and asked, “What’s your military status?” Meaning, is it possible that I could be called into active duty. I informed him that I had served four years active duty in the Air Force, and I was currently serving my two years in active reserves which would complete my obligation. He offered me another beer and never asked another question.
You see he was called to duty as a medic during World War II. His time in action left him with shrapnel in his body and an eventual divorce after returning home; he did not want his daughter exposed to that potential problem.
Mickey lived a short life of 52 years due to the war injuries and died with the metal from the war still in his body. As noted above, his war record speaks for itself. He was inducted on 24 June 1943. He served in the African theater and participated, endured, and survived the Battle of the Bulge. During his service he was awarded two Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, two Silver Stars, a World War II Victory Medal, and a Good Conduct medal.
The poster below shows Frank McNabb receiving one of his Silver Stars. I had it made and displayed it every year at our Veterans Golf Tournament.
A true American Hero and honored as such in the library of his hometown. He is certainly one of my HEROES.
Editor’s Note: Ron Troy wrote about his own service in the Air Force during the Vietnam era.
