Franklin Randolph Akana (1949 - 1970)

Died 20 Nov 1970 at age 21 in Chau Doc, Vietnam

Biography

Military Service

Specialist Fifth Class Franklin Akana was Killed in Action in Vietnam during The Vietnam War.

SP5 Franklin Akana served in the United States Army in the Vietnam War
Service started: c. 1969
Unit(s): 114th Aviation Company
Service ended: 20 Nov 1970

Event - Death

Place - Chau Doc, Vietnam

Tour Date - 07 Jan 1970

Casualty Category - Battle Dead

Casualty Status Note - Hostile Dead: Killed Out-Right

Report Number - 14122

Casualty Number - 28630

Military Classification or Dependant - Enlisted Personnel

Military Category - Active Duty Army

Rank - Specialist Fifth Class

Occupation - Single-Rotor Turbine Observation/ Utility Helicopter Repairman (ARMY)

Service Number - 576540996

Religion - Latter Day Saints (Mormon)

Marital Status - Married

Residence Place - Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Panel - 06W

He was a flight-qualified UH-1 helicopter mechanic and crew chief. On the date of his death he was serving as the crew chief on a helicopter, he was reported to have sustained fatal injuries when a mechanical ambush device was accidentally detonated by approaching friendly troops. The death record reports are conflicting as to the official status of his death, some list him as a non-hostile/accidental death other list him as a hostile/battle dead casualty. The location is not consistent between records either, some list unknown province and others indicate location of death was Chau Doc, Vietnam.

Bronze Star

Air Medal and 31 Oak Leaf Clusters

Army Commendation Medal

Burial

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawaii

Sources

• "United States Military Personnel who Died During the Vietnam War, 1956-2003," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXXT-R6G : 12 December 2014), Franklin Randolph Akana, 20 Nov 1970; citing , Unknown Code, South Vietnam, panel 06W, line 072, NARA NAID 571687, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV3-88JV : 13 December 2015), Franklin Randolph Akana, 1970; Burial, Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific; citing record ID 3767880, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

• "United States Military Personnel who Died During the Vietnam War, 1956-2003," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXXT-R6G : 12 December 2014), Franklin Randolph Akana, 20 Nov 1970; citing , Unknown Code, South Vietnam, panel 06W, line 072, NARA NAID 571687, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

• "United States Casualties of the Vietnam War, 1956-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXZ4-4ZK : 12 December 2014), Franklin Randolph Akana, NARA NAID 306742, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

• "United States Casualties of Army Personnel, Dependents and Civilian Employees, 1961-1981," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXCD-PS4 : 12 December 2014), Franklin R Akana, 20 Nov 1970; citing Death, Chau Doc, NARA NAID 641697, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

• "United States Casualties of Army Personnel, Dependents and Civilian Employees, 1961-1981," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXCZ-QRQ : 12 December 2014), Franklin R Akana, 20 Nov 1970; citing Death, Chau Doc, NARA NAID 641697, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V9YQ-N68 : 20 May 2014), Franklin Akana, Nov 1970; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).