Frank J. Boerckel

Private First Class Frank J. Boerckel was born in 1905 to George J. and Margaret C. Boerckel in Philadelphia, PA. His father was a carpenter. He was the fourth child, coming after J. George, Sophia, and William H. Boerckel. When he was very young, the family lived at 5320 James Street in the Frankford section of Philadelphia, PA. He later lived in Camden, NJ, with his sister Miss Sophia Boerckel, at 317 Walnut Street. He worked at the Pennsylvania State Hospital at Byberry in northeast Philadelphia.

Frank Boerckel was originally inducted into the Army in June of 1941. After 13 weeks of training he was discharged due to his age, but was recalled after Pearl Harbor, leaving home in January of 1942. He joined the 37th Infantry Division at Camp Shelby, MS. In February the division moved to Fort Indiantown Gap, PA, where it remained until it was sent overseas by way of the San Francisco Port of Embarkation on May 26, 1942.

The 37th Infantry Division arrived at Viti Levu in the Fiji Islands on June 11, 1942, with the mission of both fortifying the islands and conducting intensive training. On April 5, 1943, it moved to Guadalcanal where it continued training. The 14th Infantry was detached and landed on Banika Island in the Russell Islands Group on June 7, 1943, and a battalion from it and the 145th Infantry were attached to the 1st Marine Raider Regiment for operations on New Georgia Island. The remainder of the 145th and 148th Infantry arrived at Rendova, New Georgia, on July 7, 1943, and engaged in heavy fighting for Munda Airfield under the 43rd Infantry Division. The 148th Infantry attacked Barley Ridge and then shifted its assault to Horseshoe Hill where it was surrounded from July 26 until August 1, 1943, until the Japanese evacuated their positions. The 145th Infantry finished clearing Bartley Ridge on July 31, 1943.

Private First Class Frank Boerckel was killed in action in the fighting around Bartley Ridge on July 29, 1943, on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands. He served with PFC Frank J. Petrarca of Cleveland, OH, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions there.

The death of Frank Boerckel was reported in the August 26, 1943 edition of the Camden Courier-Post. He was awarded the Purple Heart. He was survived by his sister, Sophie Boerckel, of Camden, NJ, and two brothers, J. George and William H. Boerckel, of Philadelphia, PA. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery in Manila, Philippines, at Plot D, Row 10, Grave 155.