Private First Class Franklin E. Simpson served with Troop C, 8^th Engineer Squadron, 1^st Cavalry Division.  He was killed in action on 27 February 1945 at Taytay, Luzon Island, in the Philippines.

Pulled from Findagrave:

Another dreaded War Department telegram arrived in Huntingdon yesterday afternoon, bearing the most tragic word of all. It came to Mrs. Ethel Richardson Simpson, 328 Washington Street, and told that her husband, Pfc. Franklin Earnest Simpson, had been killed in action on Luzon in the Philippines on February 27. The wire came from Ulio, the adjutant general, and informed Mrs. Simpson that a confirming letter would follow.

The last letters from Pfc. Simpson, who was with the combat engineers of the First Cavalry Division, had been written February 14 and 16. They told that he had been in a hospital for ten days but that he was now back in action, “going night and day.” No word had ever been received that he had been wounded so it is presumed that he had been taking a rest. He had been in almost constant action since the landing at Leyte on October 20, when he had taken part in the original invasion.

In the service since May 23, 1942, Pfc. Simpson trained at Camp Bowie, Texas, AP Hill, Va., Camp Sutton, N.C., and Fort Bliss, Texas. From there he went to California and sailed May 27, 1943. He went first to Australia and had served in New Guinea and the Admiralty Islands before going to the Philippines. Mrs. Simpson believes that he had served in other islands of the Pacific, but his mail was always so strictly censored that he could not reveal all the places where he had been.

The only furlough which Pfc. Simpson ever had was in December, 1942 and the following three months Mrs. Simpson spent with her husband at Camp Sutton, N.C.

Franklin Earnest Simpson was the oldest son of George N Simpson of Hollidaysburg and the late Laura Mae MacDonald Simpson of Huntingdon. He was born in Huntingdon March 18, 1913 and is survived by his wife, his father, and the following sisters and brothers, Helen, Mrs. George Megahan, Detroit Mich.; Virginia, Mrs. Walter Lewis, San Diego, Calif.; Joan, at home; Robert Simpson, Detroit, Mich.; and James Simpson and Donald Simpson, at home. His two grand-mothers also survive: Mrs. Frank V. Simpson and Mrs. Frank P. Earnest, Huntingdon.

Before entering the service, he was employed by the Huntingdon Throwing Company. Mrs. Simpson has been employed at Hixson’s on Fifth Street for several years.

His medals were returned to his Franklin’s nephew, Mr. John Mielnik.

The ceremony took place at the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.