Frank J. DePolis: Lost at Pearl Harbor but not forgotten
By Christopher Miller
The news rang out on local and national radio stations on the afternoon (east coast time) of December 7, 1941. The Hawaiian islands had been attacked by Japanese air units.
It would be 2 days until the Clinton County area would learn that one of her own was lost in the attacks of that early December Sunday.
The December 9 issue of Renovo Daily Record displayed the headline, “STAFF SGT. FRANK J. DEPOLIS KILLED IN HAWAII BOMBINGS” with the sub-headline “Local Young Man Gives Life For Country During First Jap Attack.”
This day marked the first time that the War Department released the casualty list of soldiers killed in the initial bombardment of Hawaii by Japanese air units less than 24 hours after declaring war on Japan. The United States was again thrust into another world war.
This partial list only contained 37 names and indicated that all of the casualties were enlisted men and officers of the Army Air Corps stationed on the island of Oahu. Frank J. DePolis’ name was on the initial list.
The original reports in Renovo Daily Record also doubled as an obituary for the young man from Renovo.
“Staff Sergeant DePolis, 22, was born in Renovo, May 22, 1919 and was graduated from St. Joseph’s High School, class of 1937. He played forward on the school basketball team.” “Before enlisting in the army on June 4, 1939, he had been employed as an usher at the Rialto Theatre.” “He had been stationed at Form Slocum, N.Y., before sailing for Hawaii.” “In his last letter home he told of being crew chief on a bomber.”
The obituary went on.
“Besides his mother, he is survived by three sisters and a brother at home.” “His father died as a result of injuries received in a fall in the local P.R.R. shops in 1928.” “Frank was a member of St. Joseph’s Church.” “He is remembered for his devotion to his mother.” “On Mother’s Day he sent her, by air mail, a lei made of flowers of the island.”
Also of local interest below the sad story about Mr. DePolis was a note saying that a Piper Distributor in Hawaii was one of the first war victims. “Bob Tyce, Piper Cub Distributor in Honolulu was the head of K-P Flying Service, and had wired only last Friday for another Cub.” “It was reported that Mr. Tyce, machine-gunned by a Japanese plane that swooped low as he was attempting to spin the propeller of a plane, was the first to die in the Japanese surprise attack.”
The December 11 issue of Renovo Daily Record had the headline, “SYMPATHY OF RENOVO GOES OUT TO DEPOLIS FAMILY” with the sub-headline, “Former Renovo Priest Pays Tribute To First Local Boy Killed In War.”
The newspaper further reported the letter received to Frank’s mother in Renovo from the former Renovo Priest:
“My dear Mrs. DePolis:
I wish there were some words that could convey to you my heartfelt sympathy over the great shock and sad loss that you have undergone since Sunday. But words seem so fruitless at this time. However, please try to be as brave as he would want you to be at this time. Frank was a good boy and was not afraid to give his life for his country. We are all proud that we knew him and are grateful to you, his Mother, for the sacrifice you are making. Do have courage now. God’s ways are sometimes hard to understand; but let us try to see His good and gracious purpose working in all trials that are set upon us; let us meekly look up to Him, the God of all consolation. I shall offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for Frank and I shall remember you and your family, that Our Divine Master, through the hands of His Immaculate Mother, will give you the courage to bear this cross that is now yours. With kindest wishes of sympathy and respect, I remain,
Sincerely,
Philip J. O’Donnell, rector
Our Lady of Lourdes Rectory, Altoona, Pa.
Time passed by for the DePolis family in Renovo and it wasn’t until October of 1947, nearly 6 years later, that Frank DePolis body was being returned to be interred.
“Body Of Frank DePolis, First Of War Dead, Is New Enroute To East; Nation Honors Him And 3,000 Others Today,” is what local news headlines reported on October 10.
“The body was on the first shipload of those who were the first to fall and the first of the dead to return to their homeland,” news reports said. “Respecting the wish of his mother, the Army will arrange to have him buried at the Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y.”
“Most of them (on the ship) – like Frank J. DePois – fell without a chance to defend themselves, the victims of the Japs in Hawaii in the attack which sowed American cemeteries all over the world,” news reported.
As reported, the funeral ship carried 3,028 bodies in addition to the Pearl Harbor victims, the ship also bore some who died in later battles in China, India, and Burma. A simple wreath was carried to the ship, a tribute from President Truman and the nation, made of leaves from trees in all parts of the country.
“Six caskets will lie in state in the rotunda of San Francisco’s City Hall tomorrow morning,” the newspaper reported, “representing the army, navy, coast guard, marine corps, air forces and service-attached civilians.”
“Within three days and with the greatest reverence, all 3,028 caskets will be sent to their final resting places, in accord with the wishes of next of kin.” “With each will go a guard of honor.”
In 2001, a stone monument honoring Frank DePolis was donated by Renovo resident Bill Bauer. The idea to honor DePolis came about after North Bend resident John Curcio discussed with fellow Renovo V.F.W. members what the service organization could do to remember the then-60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor.
Frank J. DePolis was not the only Clinton County native who was present in Hawaii during the infamous attack by the Japanese. James E. Sementelli, who served in the United States Army during World War II and passed away in 2003, was also stationed in Pearl Harbor during the infamous attack.
More than 2,400 Americans died at Pearl Harbor that sunny December morning, including civilians, and another 1,000 more were wounded.
