Comments by Councilor Marc Laplante
We are here today to remember a person that none of us have met. There are no relatives of Frank Alekno here. No family friends or anyone who knew someone who knew someone who knew Alekno or his family. In fact what we know about Frank Alekno is contained in two documents: his draft registration and the Gold Star Record of Massachusetts. We fill in the blanks through research – it is a puzzle.
Frank Alekno was born in Russia on April 10, 1888. When he came to the United States in 1907, he was 19 years old. It was not clear that he wanted to be an American citizen. According to how he filled out his draft card, he probably came to this country for a job to support himself and maybe his family back home. His uncle, Anthony Knopo, was living in Lawrence at the time. When he was drafted he was working at the Duck Mill and lived at 75 Concord St. He was of medium build and height and had dark hair and blue eyes. He entered the Army on July 6, 1917 at the age of 29, was assigned to 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Division, and went to Syracuse, NY for training. 100 years ago today, September 7, 1917, he left Hoboken, NJ and sailed to France with thousands of other newly trained servicemen. His regiment arrived in France 13 days later on September 20. Training continued through the winter until March 17, 1918, when they were then deployed to the Verdun sector. The skirmish where he lost his life took place on April 21, 1918 at Maujouy Farm, Senoncourt, France, about 10 miles south of the ancient and historic French city of Verdun. He was on patrol with two other men when he attacked a hostile patrol of 7 men.
From official records: “Although fatally wounded, he continued fighting until the hostile patrol was driven back and the officers commanding it, with a noncommissioned officer, was killed. Although mortally wounded, he carried a message for assistance to a point 200 yards away.” Valuable papers & information were retrieved from the German killed in combat that greatly assisted the Allies. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)-the second highest military award for the Army-for “extraordinary heroism”. Uncle Anthony was presented with Alekno’s DSC medal. Alekno died fighting in the United States military as a Russian citizen.
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I had the chance to visit Alekno’s grave 5 months ago at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial. This was the trip to Europe with my family where we brought City of Lawrence flags to place at the gravesites of the 52 Lawrence boys who were buried in 5 American cemeteries. Here I learned from Meuse-Argonne Cemetery Superintendent David Bedford that every soldier who received a medal of distinction such as the Medal of Honor, Silver Star and Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) would have that inscription on their grave marker. When we reached Alekno’s grave the “DSC” inscription was not on his grave. When I made that known to Bedford, he told me he would look into it. On Memorial Day 6 weeks later, I received an email from Bedord with a picture of Alekno’s grave marker properly inscribed with his distinction. Thanks to all who were involved in my trip to France, we were able to correct this wrong.
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On November 2, 1917, the first American deaths in the Great War took place. Since they were the first, there was an unusual amount of attention paid to the three young servicemen (whose last names were Enright, Gresham and Hay) who were killed in action. French General Joseph Bordeaux made the following comments that I think are fitting for Alekno and they are powerful to me since I had the privilege to visit the American cemeteries in France to honor and pay respect to our Lawrence fallen:
“On behalf of the 18th division, on behalf of the French Army and on behalf of France, I say goodbye to Private Enright, to Corporal Gresham, and to Private Hay of the American Army. Of their own volition, they left a prosperous and a happy country to come here. They knew that the war in Europe was still going on. They knew that the forces fighting for honor, love of country and civilization were still opposed by forces prepared for a long time, serving the powers of brutal domination, oppression and barbarism. They knew that efforts were still needed. They generously offered their blood….The death of this humble corporal and these privates takes a character of particular grandeur. We will ask that their bodies remain here forever, and we will inscribe on their graves, Here Lie the First Soldiers of the Famous Republic of the United States, Who Fell in the Fields of France for Justice and Freedom. Passers-by will stop and the men of heart who will visit the battlefields of Lorraine will go out of their way to come here to bring to these tombs the tribute of their respect and gratitude. Corporal Gresham, Private Enright and Private Hay, on behalf of France, I thank you. God receive your souls. Adieu.”
Thank you.
