Pvt. Francis P. Markuns
31368365
G Company, 329th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division
March 21, 1925 - March 31, 2016
Pvt. Francis P. Markuns
31368365
G Company, 329th Infantry Regiment
83rd Infantry Division
Awards and decorations
Biography
Born as the son of Lithuanian immigrants Charles and Anna Markuns on March 21, 1925, Francis was raised with siblings Alice, Albert and Lucy. Shortly after graduating from South Boston High School he was called up to the Army in July 1943 at age 18. Originally assigned to the 63rd Infantry Division, he began his training at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi, qualifying on the BAR. Midway through training, however, he moved to the 83rd, which, according to Francis, was a “hot outfit … just coming up to full strength.” He joined the 83rd at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky, became part of G Company, 329th Regiment, and re-qualified on the BAR. From Breckenridge, it was a short stay at Camp Shanks, New York, and then a departure from New York harbor aboard the troop ship HMS Samaria as part of a massive convoy, with a final destination in Wales.
Overseas service
Training continued in Wales, and Francis was in the middle of a field exercise in early June when they received orders that the 83rd was to join the fight. He arrived with the 83rd at Omaha. A day after his arrival he moved from assistant to lead BAR in his squad. He fought in the hedgerows and was part of the July 4th action in the “swamp” near Sainteny. Francis went on and fought at St. Malo and at the Citadel and remained with his company until after Angers. He then developed a bad infection that puffed up the side of his face and was sent back to England for 2-3 weeks. After he recovered, it took him a while to catch up again with the 83rd (essentially he was part of a group who figured out a way to be returned to the 83rd out of a replacement pool outside of Bastogne). He rejoined his company and platoon shortly before the 83rd liberated Echternach, Luxembourg. He fought in the Hurtgen and was wounded on or about December 17 near Duren, Germany. He was evacuated from a field hopsital in Liege just after the breakthrough, first to Paris and then on to England and finally stateside. After multiple operations and several months, he was honorably discharged.
Liberation of Echternach
Following story was told to me by Francis at the 2011 West Point Reunion
"We were the first to liberate the town of Echternach. That means the very first time it was liberated, before the Battle of the Bulge. I was with my squad doing patrols when we discovered a store that still had lots of boxes champagne inside. Off course we did our job and 'liberated' some of the best quality boxes and took them to our house where we were stationed. On the ceiling we had painted a crosshair and we would take turns to grab a bottle of one of the boxes and open it. When we opened it, the cork would shoot away and we would aim for the bullseye. If we missed that bullseye, we didn't mind and just drank that bottle. If we did hit the bullseye that soldier would take another bottle and do the whole thing all over again. We had lots of fun. But it didn't last long. The next day, so after the action, the officers came into town and we were to sleep outside in our foxholes again and everything returned to the everyday live of a GI. Of course champange (alcoholic beverages) and stores like the one we found were now out of bounds. And you won't be surprised if I tell you the officers were now stationed in houses and drinking champagne. But we did get away with some of the best stuff!"
Post War life
While convalescing before discharge, he met his wife Virginia. Francis attended Wentworth Institute on the GI bill and landed a job with Manton Gaulin Corporation, where he worked as a machine operator for his entire career. Francis and Virginia married in May 1949, and his son John was born in February 1950, followed over the next 11 years by four more children, two boys and two girls. After Francis’s retirement, his family continued to grow, starting with his first grandchild, Jeffrey Francis, first son of John. Francis had another 8 grandchildren, and now 8 great grandchildren. Francis Markuns was a lifelong resident of South Boston and regular attendee at the 83rd Infantry Division Association Reunions. He passed away on March 31, 2016 at the age of 91.
Gallery
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