Frank E. Swail Jr.

Technical Sergeant Frank E. Swail Jr. was born in Canada on October 9, 1908, to Frank E. and Eva Swail. Frank Swail Sr. was a sign painter by trade, born in Detroit, Michigan, of Canadian parents. Mrs. Swail had been born in New Jersey. A daughter, named Eva like her mother, was born in Canada in 1912. The family moved to Haddon Heights NJ sometime in the 1920s, where they rented a house at 617 White Horse Pike. An older brother Percy Swail remained in Canada. Frank Swail Jr. graduated from high school and was a naturalized American citizen.

Serial: 39006404 — No awards — Harleigh Cemetery, Haddon Avenue, Camden, NJ

As of May 1930, Frank Swail Jr. was working as an usher in a movie theatre, most likely the Century at White Horse Pike and Kings Highway, and his sister was teaching in a local public school. She later married Charles Iredell and remained in Haddon Heights, where Charles Iredell operated a funeral home for many years at 402 White Horse Pike.

Frank Swail Jr. was living in San Francisco county, California, when drafted. He had worked repairing medical equipment prior to his induction. He entered service in San Francisco on March 31, 1941, and was assigned to the 81st Bombardment Squadron, 12th Bombardment Group. Unmarried at the time of his entrance into the military, he listed his sister, still living at the White Horse Pike address, as his next of kin. Frank Swail was among one of the first troops to land in North Africa and took part in the invasions of Sicily and Italy. In March of 1944 he was sent to India.

Frank E. Swail Jr. contracted malaria while serving in India. He died from the disease on September 12, 1944. He was survived by his sister of Haddon Heights and his brother Percy Swail of Montreal, Canada.

Frank E. Swail Jr. was brought home to New Jersey and was buried at Harleigh Cemetery in 1948.