Silver Star Recipient, Vietnam POW Speaks to Online History Class (Franke, Doremus)

When a CM junior found out his great-grandmother wrote to American POWs in Vietnam, he shared the discovery with Mr. Bradley.

West Roxbury, Mass.– As Catholic Memorial School junior Kevin Pumphret held the letter in his hands and read the words of Navy captain Bill Franke, his mind returned to a discussion from his American War in Vietnam course – the experience of prisoners of war.

Bill Franke, a Vietnam War veteran and prisoner of war, penned the letter as a response to Kevin’s great-grandmother. With the discovery of the letter, Kevin learned that his great-grandmother frequently sent letters to American POWs and Bill had written back.


“I was obviously very interested in [the letter] due to the fact I’m in the Vietnam class and also because my grandfather is a veteran of Vietnam,” said Kevin. 

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Always Out Front (Donald Rander)

During the night of January 31, 1968, a Villa in Hue occupied by the 135th MI Group regional team came under attack.   The shelling awakened Sergeant Donald Rander, assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Hue Regional Headquarters.   Grabbing flak jackets and weapons, the members grouped on the second floor.  They remained there

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