Memorial

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Pfc Frank Decker enlisted in Louisville, Kentucky on 5 June 1942.

The Deckers where a typical farm family in those days with lots of children to help on the farm. There were 10 children with Frank being the 7th child. Frank had only gone through the 1st year of high school.

Poem written for Pfc Decker by his sister Alma Decker Jeffries:

"God Called you home from war and pain,
You gave your all that peace might reign.
You were taken from us in a cruel way,
But in our heart you live each day.
You were laid to rest in a foreign land,
And somehow it's hard to understand,
Why we must sacrifice our sons
In war torn countries mist roaring guns.
We miss you in our home dear Brother,
We miss your sweet letters too.
And every day as we go along,
There are precious memories of you.
Your pleasant smile and kindly way,
Your love of home and country fair,
Your friends and chums with whom you played,
The little keepsakes you kept with care,
Your gleaming white teeth and waving hair,
And the way you dressed with pride.
All these remind us of our loss
Since you are no longer by our side.
Life is lonely here without you,
And we miss you everywhere.
But somehow heaven seems nearer
Since you have gone to live up there.
When our life here has ended,
And we board to Heavenly Train,
You will hear us say, 'Hello, Frank",
It's so good to see you again."

On the family photo: back row - Adam, Alpha, Ambers, Daisy and Alma. On the second row - Frank, Eva, Bill and Beulah and on the front row - Mary (Thomas) and the dog.

Pfc Decker was killed by small arms fire to the head.

He was initially buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Breuna #1. After being disinterrred, he was buried in a temporary grave at Margraten on 24 July 1945 and was given his final resting place on 27 January 1949.