Francis B Mumblo was born and raised in New York. Francis was the oldest son of Frank J and Almeta M Mumblo ... He grew up together with his four siblings. Records show that Francis enlisted in the Army in Washington County, NY, but he probably grew up in Glens Falls, NY. In 1929, at the age of eleven Francis witnessed the Great Depression hitting the States and the rest of the world hard.

Records show that Francis finished grammar school and never went to high school or college. It's likely that Francis' family, like millions of others had to do everything possible to keep their heads above water in these turbulent times. Being the oldest son in a family of five, Francis probably had to work at a young age to support the family. This could very well explain why Francis didn't follow another education.

Francis' religion was Roman-Catholic and in the year 1937 he married the love of his life Ruth Ann Jenks. Together they had two children, Gary Bernard Mumblo and Sandra H. Mumblo. The future looked bright for Mr. and Mrs Francis Mumblo ... the Depression was overcome and life in the United States and the rest of the world was getting better and better ... Francis had his own little family but this happiness wasn't there to last for very long ... Thousands of miles away from the States developments beyond anyone's imagination were in progress. Developments that would endanger not only the Mumblo's future, but the entire world ...

Because of having a family and children, Francis was not drafted into the Army, but he decided to answer the call eventually. On Thursday December 9, 1943 Francis went to Albany NY where he enlisted in the United States Army. After basic training Francis was assigned to his outfit, being the Big Red One ... the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division. This historical division in the US Army fought many fierce battles in the Second World War. By the time Francis enlisted his future comrades in arms already had a long way behind them ...

Stationed at Fort Hamilton, N.Y. as the 1st Division they were moved to Fort Benning, Ga. on November 19, 1939 and to the Louisiana Maneuvers in the Sabine, La. area May 11, 1940. The division returned to Fort Hamilton, N.Y. on June 5, 1940 and moved to Fort Devens, Mass. February 4, 1941. The division participated in both Carolina Maneuvers of October and November 1941 and went to Samarcand, N.C. on October 16, 1941.

They returned to Fort Devens, Mass. on December 6, 1941 and transferred to Camp Blanding, Fla. on February 21, 1942 where redesignated 1st Infantry Division May 15, 1942. They were moved to Fort Benning, Ga. May 22, 1942 and Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pa. June 24, 1942. After zigzagging across the United States the 1st Infantry Division finally departed New York Port of Embarkation on August 1, 1942 ... they arrived in England on August 7, 1942.

As part of Operation Torch, the division landed in North Africa on November 8, 1942. The 16th and 18th Infantry went ashore east of Oran and the 26th Infantry landed at Les Andalouses, and entered Oran November 10, 1942. The 18th Infantry went into action at Djebel el Ahmera with the British, and the 26th Infantry cleared the Ouseltia Valley by January 1943 and went into positions at Kasserine Pass February 1943.

The division attacked as a concentrated whole for the first time on March 16, 1943 east from El Guettar, and the 18th and 26th Infantry contained two strong German counterattacks. The division relieved the British 4th Division near Beja and attacked along the Medjez el Bab-Tunis highway. After the 18th Infantry cleared Hill 407 and the 26th Infantry cleared Hill 575, the 26th Infantry reached Djebel el Anz against strong German resistance. Finally the 16th Infantry began its attack on Hill 523 on April 28, 1943 and the division was actively engaged in Tunisia until May 9, 1943.

During Operation Husky (Sicily landings) the division assaulted Gela, Sicily on Jul 10, 1943. After fending off a German armored attack the division pushed inland and took Mazzarino, Niscemi and Barrafranca. After a series of sharp battles over difficult terrain the 1st Infantry Division left Sicily on October 23 1943 for England to train for the invasion of northern France ... D-Day

When Francis enlisted on December 9, 1943 his future division already had seen battle and was training for an epic battle in history ... D-Day. It's highly unlikely that Francis will have participated in D-Day. He most probably joined his outfit as a replacement for the many losses during Operation Overlord (D-Day) and the following months. On June 6, 1944 reinforced by the 116th Infantry, the Big Red One assaulted Omaha Beach, France in the face of fierce opposition.

The 16th Infantry, which led the division attack, reached the St. Lo-Bayeux highway June 10, 1944, and the 18th and 26th Infantry seized Caumont on June 13, 1944. On July 13, 1944 the division was relieved by the 5th Infantry Division in line and withdrew to Colmbieres. It next attacked as part of the COBRA breakout effort on July 25, 1944, took Marigny and secured the Sée River crossings July 31, 1944. It sped south to Mortain where it was relieved by the 30th Infantry Division August 6, 1944, allowing it to then push forward to Mayenne with the 3rd Armored Division. The division assembled south of Paris on August 25, 1944.

September 1944 ... By now Francis B Mumblo most probably has joined his outfit, the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division. The 1st Infantry Division aimed it's sights for the "Fatherland" ... Germany was about to be assaulted ... Early September 1944 the division laid siege to the fortress-city of Aachen and the battle was commenced with an attack on its municipal forest September 12, 1944. As the division tried to encircle Aachen, the 16th Infantry was halted at the Siegfried Line September 15, 1944. On October 8, 1944 the division renewed its Aachen assault with the 18th Infantry pushing through Verlautenheide, the 26th Infantry attacking through the heart of the city, and the 16th Infantry holding defensive positions near Eilendorf.

By October 12, 1944 the 26th Infantry had gained most of the factory district between Aachen and Haaren and began an all-out central attack the next day. After severe fighting it had gained most of Observatory Hill but German counterattacks forced all further advances to a halt October 15, 1944. The 16th Infantry was forced to defend its area against strong German assaults as well. On October 18, 1944 the division was reinforced for yet another attack on Aachen. The 26th Infantry gained Observatory Hill and forced the Germans back into the western suburbs, and on October 21, 1944 the city was finally taken by direct assault.

From here on Francis and his outfit will be involved in one of the bloodiest battles the US Army ever faught in history. In the dense woods of the Hürtgen Forest tenthousands of young Americans would lose their lives ... After being relieved by the 104th Infantry Division, the division opened First Army's offensive to secure the Roer River crossings east of Aachen on November 16, 1944. After 15 days of intense fighting in this sector the division had only gained four miles, which included the 26th Infantry's capture of Laufenburg Castle November 20, 1944.

From these days there is a small journal of a soldier from the 26 Infantry Regiment which describes the actions day by day ... This enables us to have a glimps of the action Francis must have been in during those fateful days in November 1944 ...

Nov 19th - The attack was continued at 1300 hrs thru LD (026433) Laufenberg Castle at 1630 hrs. The swamp buggies had a 2 fold mission, on trips to forward CP they transported ammunition water, and C rations; on the return journey they evacuated wounded to rear medical stations. This operation was carried on under heavy enemy artillery and large caliber mortar fire, zeroed in on the road. Cas: 26 WIA, 10 abs sk, 10 NP. Altogether there were 82 evacuations. Weather continued rain and cold. Lt Yelverton, K, Lt Ratchford, K, Lt Key, M, Lt Chancey, I, Lt Cook, L, Lt Phillips, M; the forenamed officers were casualties.

Nov 20th - The bn. moved forward continuing the attack at 1400 hrs from (028439). Artillery and mortar fire was heavy as the troops made their drive. At 1700 hrs they accomplished the objective on checkpoint 61 (031445) a distance of 800 yds. Enemy artillery fell in and around both forward and rear CP's. Cas: 20 WIA, 12 abs sk, 8 NP. Weather continued rain. Lt Buck wounded but not evacuated.

Nov 22nd - All companies improved their positions. The CP was built up in a creek bed and logs were fell across the bed. This provided ample protection from shells bursting close to CP. K Co sent a patrol out to contact the enemy. The patrol received small arms fire. There were 77 replacements and 4 officers assigned to the Bn today. The following is the break down to each company: Hq 1, I 20, K 23, L 20, and M 13; Officers Lt Meyers, K, Lt Elsen I, Lt Mosias K, Lt Leslie I. All replacements kept in field train until needed. Present position heavily shelled. Cas: WIA 52, KIA 3, Lt Meyer WIA Lt Goodrich and Lt Chafin KIA as of the 21st of Nov. Rear CP move to Schevenhutte (607416) on the main route for the bn. Forward CP heavily shelled the next morning at 0415 hrs. Capt. Botts assumed command of K Co.

Nov 23rd - At 0945 hrs the bn. made another attack from (031445) and at 1030 hrs reached point 400 yds North of checkpoint 59(028453). They were still in the attack and by 1600 hrs another message transmitted to rear CP stated, "On objective" which was ridge thru BM 264 overlooking the Cologne Plain. There were 35 replacements assigned to the following companies, I 35, K, 15, Cas: WIA 24, abs sk 5, NP 8.

A word in passing that today was Thanksgiving Day a great national holiday at home. Turkeys were supplied to kitchens but were not served. Later when situation permits we shall have a good feast.

Nov 24th - The bn. is in a defensive position and fortifications are being strengthened. An artillery OP which overlooks the enemies position from an excellent vantage point spotted enemy artillery batteries. Upon completion of fire mission, the results were 4 batteries put out of action. Observation of enemy positions is excellent. The weather permitted the Air Force to dive bomb and strafe enemy positions in our sector. In order to improve telephone communications a 12 drop switchboard was transported this morning to forward CP. The supply sergeants issued each man a pair of new socks and the dirty socks were returned to be washed by the QM Laundry.

This afternoon Sgts Mosely and Nestor returned from Danger Base after taking final physical examination for battlefield promotions to the rank of 2nd Lt. Col Seitz visited the bn. Commander to discuss future operations. The blue 2 jeep returned after being repaired by ordnance. A new motor was installed which makes the 2nd ¼ ton vehicle within a week sent to ordnance for a new motor. Interdictory artillery fell upon the bn. The telephone line to forward CP was in contact for the most part today. Blue 1 has been at the regt CP also at the field train allocation replacements, the data which follows: I 20, E 24,.Hq 8, M 1, also 8 officers were assigned; Capt. Fielder F. Fair K, 1st Lt. Eugene M. Alder L, 1st Lt Edward R Costello K, 2nd Lt William R Johnson I, 2nd Lt Jack W. Lewis K, and Lt Gray transferred from I to K. Cas: WIA 8, abs sk 12, KIA 2. Lt Mortimer I and Lt. Costello K. Weather cool and clear today, 5 prisoners were captured.

Being a soldier of the 26th Infantry Regiment who wrote the war diary doesn't mean that he was fighting close to Francis Mumblo ... One of the last entries reads ... "KIA 2." ... We don't know what Company Francis served in, but Francis was one of the men who was killed on that Friday, November 24, 1944 ... thousands of miles away from his wife Ruth and his children Gary and Sandra.

From the journal it seemed a rather quiet day, so we have to assume that Francis was killed during the enemy interdictory artillery or while being on patrol. Had an enemy partol attacked the American positions, it probably would have been mentioned in the journal ... The problem with this theory is that it's just that ... a theory ... no one actually told Gary and Sandra what actually happened that day. That terrible day when their father was ripped out of their lives of whose existence they only would learn more than 50 years later.

These days Francis B Mumblo rests in the beautiful American Military Cemetery at Henri-Chapelle ... He is remembered and honored by his son Gary B Mumblo and his partner in life Elaine Benjamin, by his daughter Sandra H Mumbo, by the webmaster of this website who adopted Francis' final resting place, his entire family, by everyone who visits the Henri-Chapelle cemetery and everyone who visits the In Honored Glory website.

Special thanks to Francis' son Gary and his partner in life Elaine Benjamin

If you have any information that can help Gary and Sandra learn more about their father, please contact the webmaster as soon as possible ... Thank you !