Francis Turner Speaks at Dec 11 Rotary Luncheon

Francis Turner, aged 95 and a Rotarian for 64 years, gave a riveting presentation at the Dec 11 Tunkhannock Rotary Luncheon at Purkey’s Pink Apple on his Sept trip to Europe to commemorate the 70^th Anniversary of the liberation of Europe during World War II.

Fran was 1 of a 3 WW II veterans, all of whom served in the European theater, who attended commemorative ceremonies in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. In several locations, international groups of re-enactors lovingly restored tanks and equipment from the war and put on mock battles and parades to commemorate the events leading to the liberation of their towns or countries.

Fran enlisted in early 1941, went to officer candidate school and became a combat engineer lieutenant. Although he was first in North Africa, he was re-assigned to England to prepare for what turned out to be the D-Day invasion. His unit was part of the second wave that landed to establish a beachhead before heavy armor such as tanks could be sent over. 2^nd Lieutenant Turner commanded a platoon of 40 soldiers in the 17^th Engineers in the European theater in support of the 6^th Armored Regiment. They were the first army combat unit to enter Belgium and then into Germany but waited outside Berlin until the Russian could enter first.

A large commemorative ceremony was held in Rumes, Belgium, a town first liberated by the Americans. The ceremony was attended by 3 American vets (Fran Turner, Charles Grunert and Bob Connerton), 1 British vet (Ernie Turner) and by Prince Laurent of Belgium. The ceremonies were featured on Belgium TV, including a segment on Fran laying a wreath at one of the memorials.

The group then went on to Peronne France and Arromanches France, where further re-enactments were done as part of the commemorations. They also visited Omaha Beach and the encampment at Bray-Sur_Somme France.

Fran then visited Margraten Cemetery in the Netherlands where American troops were buried, including PFC Albert Clark, one of the men in Fran’s platoon. Fran laid flowers and lead a salute at the grave of PFC Clark.

The group next traveled on to ceremonies and re-enactments in Mons Belgium, Noorbeek the Netherlands, the Elbe River in Germany and Berlin, Germany. Fran and his family enjoyed this amazing trip to Europe, although not Fran’s brief stay in a Berlin hospital due to dehydration at the end of their trip.