Francis J. Marshall

Corporal Francis J. Marshall was born in New Jersey in 1925. By the time of the 1930 census, he was living with his older brother Bernard and sister Marguerite (Marie), along with their mother Mathilde and step-father Calvin Brong, at 137 Kaighn Avenue in Camden. Francis Marshall graduated from Camden High School in the winter of 1943, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on February 1 of that year.

Francis Marshall underwent basic training at Parris Island, NC. He was chosen for flight duty and trained in aerial gunnery, graduating from that class in November. He was subsequently stationed at Cherry Point, NC, as a member of Bomber Squadron VMB-614. VMB-614 was commissioned on October 1, 1943, at MCAS Cherry Point, and trained on PBJ-1 aircraft.

Corporal Marshall was killed when two planes collided on a training flight in North Carolina on February 23, 1944. He was 18 years old. His death was reported in the February 24, 1944, evening edition of the Camden Courier-Post, and his obituary was published on March 2, 1944. Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 3, 1944, at the Church of the Sacred Heart at Broadway and Ferry Avenue in Camden, NJ.

Corporal Marshall was survived by his sister Marie Marshall, who operated a candy store at 1054 South Second Street in Camden; his step-father, Calvin Brong, who had retired; and his step-brother, Captain George C. Brong, then serving with the Army Medical Corps in North Carolina.