POW Frank Brooks Coming Home To Edmonson County

photo of Thomas Franklin Brooks in the Edmonson County Courthouse Hall of Honor.

by Paula Ratliff:
U.S. Army Private First-Class Thomas Franklin Brooks will be laid to rest near his childhood home in Edmonson County, Kentucky as the community honors his ultimate sacrifice, having died as a prisoner of war of the Japanese Army in the Philippines during WWII at the age of 23 on December 10, 1942.
 
Many of his family members attended a briefing by the U.S. Army on August 23, 2023 at the Edmonson County Library.  Mr. Jim Bell of the Past Conflicts Repatriations Branch provided an “Identification Briefing” which covered Brooks’ time in the military and the process by which he will be returned to Edmonson County.  The family is still waiting for an official press release from the government with final arrangements. 
 
“Frank” as he was known to family and friends, was stationed at Ft. Knox, Kentucky and was a member of the 192nd Tank Battalion, known as the “Harrodsburg Tankers.”  They were one of the first units sent to reinforce US forces in the Philippines, arriving November 20, 1941, eighteen days prior to the attack at Pearl Harbor.  His unit defended the islands, fighting in the “Battle of Bataan” until April 1942 when the US forces were surrendered.  Frank was wounded and hospitalized prior to being imprisoned in the Cabanatuan POW camp in Northern Luzon, Philippines in May 1942.  Approximately 2,700 died in the prison camp.
 
Many of his comrades who were captured when the Americans surrendered were forced to march the “Bataan Death March” to the POW camp.  It is estimated that 60,000-80,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war marched approximately 65 miles through tropical conditions, enduring heat, humidity and rain without adequate medical care, food or clothing.  It is estimated that over 650 Americans and 16,500 Filipinos died during the march. Frank survived his captivity for 8 months before dying on December 10, 1942, as a result of starvation and brutality at the hands of his Japanese captors.  He was buried by other US prisoners in a common grave with 8 other men.
 
After the war ended, US officials made multiple attempts to identify the men who had died as prisoners; however, they were unable to identify Frank and he was eventually buried as an unknown among the 17,000 graves of the American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.  In 2014, family members submitted DNA samples to officials of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) in hopes that his remains could be identified.  In 2018, the remains were disinterred for the purpose of potential identification and the family was notified on June 20, 2023 that a positive identification had been made.
 
U.S. Army Veteran (retired) Gerald Carroll is a great nephew to Frank and was instrumental in corresponding with the Army and DPAA over the years, keeping hope alive that Frank would be identified and returned home.  “In 1948, Frank’s oldest sister, Cardelia Sanders passionately pleaded with the military to bring him home.  She wrote in a letter to the Quartermaster General, ‘I know you have a big job to attend to all this, but we do wish you could find his remains and ship them home as Mother wished it to be done.’  With Frank’s homecoming, we have honored the wishes of his parents and his family, we wanted to bring him home,” said Carroll.
 
Frank was the 7th of 12th children and is survived by 37 nieces and nephews and over 200 great nieces and nephews.  Of 6 men in the family of 12, 5 served in the military including Frank, Hubert, Easol, Almon and Ralph.  Our country owes a debt of gratitude to this family.
 
Frank loved his family and was known to come home often while he was stationed at Fort Knox, bringing friends with him to enjoy his family and home cooked meals.  During his service, he sent numerous letters and postcards home, several of which are carefully memorialized.  He was described as a strong and robust man providing a legacy of eternal greatness.
 
A graveside service with full military honors will be held at Hill Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery and the public is invited to attend.  There will be limited seating available; however, people are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.  Parking arrangements and transportation have been arranged across the street from the cemetery.  Additional details and times will be provided as soon as they are available.
 
He will be buried beside his parents, resting forever in a community that loved him and never relinquished the quest for his return.
 
A road sign was erected several years ago on Dickeys Mill Road, across from his homeplace and before the cemetery.  A yellow ribbon will be placed there to welcome him home.
 
During the graveside service, his family will be presented with his honors:  The Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, POW Medal, Army Good Conduct medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal and the Philippine Defense Medal.

Other presentations are expected and will be announced as available.

*article courtesy of Paula Ratliff