UNLAND, FRANCIS F Feb 23, 1945 age 20 Germany

UNLAND, FRANCIS F. b. June 27, 1924;  d. February 23, 1945 Killed In Action Germany

Pvt 16105503 120^th Inf Reg 30 Div  

Buried Arlington Nat’l Cemetery, VA

Parents: Bruno August (Gus) and  Gertrude M (nee Oughton)
Bruno died Feb. 24, 1945 St. Louis, MO; Gertrude died Feb 17, 1942 Detroit.
Sibling: Helen M. (of Detroit)


High School photo

Families are complicated, even just looking at the basic facts. Prior to the war the entire family lived in St. Louis, MO. Francis lived in Michigan for some time, graduating from Redford in 1942 and going on to attend Michigan State College 1942-43 enrolled in Business Administration. He was in the Class of 1946 but the war cut that short. The April 19, 1945 minutes of the meeting of the State Board of Agriculture gave special mention of him and students killed in the war.

Sister Helen RHS 1944

Father Bruno in St. Louis had his share of woes. In 1930 he was arrested for felonious wounding with his automobile a man; he was released on bond. Then in the July 27, 1941 St. Louis Dispatch he posted a notice that he will not be responsible for any debits contracted by anyone except himself; perhaps that’s connected to why the family headed to Detroit. Isn’t that something done with separation, divorce or family estrangements? 

Francis was first reported Missing in Action before being designated Killed in Action. He was buried initially at Margraten-Aachen, Holland. As happened with many of the dead, he was reinterred in Jan 7, 1949 at Arlington Cemetery.

I feel very bad for sister Helen and her burden. Good likelihood it was family problems that moved her to Detroit from St. Louis, along with her mother and brother. The mother dies 1942, her brother is missing in action early 1945, followed by death of the father then her brother is determined killed. Life can have such hopes that quickly turn dark. I hope Helen fared well after the war.