Past Local DAR Chapter Member Served as 2nd Lieutenant During World War II

By Diana Vice

Diana Vice is an Honorary Regent and Historian for the General de Lafayette Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

Evelyn Rosemary Frantz preferred to be called Rosemary. She was a spunky gal who enjoyed her independence. She wasn’t afraid to share an opinion, and she loved a good laugh. Born in 1921 to John and Velma Frantz, Rosemary graduated from Dayton High School and later the Home Hospital School of Nursing. After graduation she worked her way to become the head of Home Hospital’s pediatric division.

Rosemary’s deep love for her country inspired her to enlist in the United States Army Nursing Corp. where she served as 2^nd Lieutenant after completing basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After her service in WWII, she continued her duties in the Army throughout the Korean War.

I first met Rosemary at the Reformed Presbyterian Church in 1995. She was a founding member there and actively involved in the life of the congregation. It was through our shared interest in genealogy that we discovered that she was related to both my husband, Rick, and me. Our families were among Lauramie Township's first settlers near Stockwell. In fact, at one time during the 1920s, our families were next door neighbors! These families intermarried throughout the years, resulting in Rick and Rosemary sharing a common Revolutionary War Patriot.

Rosemary was the first person to encourage me to become a member of the General de Lafayette Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, an organization of which she was a proud member and actively involved. Regrettably, I didn’t pursue the opportunity until shortly after she passed away on March 16, 2013, at the age of 91.

The 80^th anniversary of the end of World War II is being commemorated this month, and I’m proud to present a past chapter member, Rosemary Frantz, for commemoration. Nearly 350,000 American women served in uniform during this war. General Eisenhower believed he could not win the war without the aid of women.

Some women served near the front lines in the Army Nurse Corps, where 16 were killed as a result of direct enemy fire. Sixty-eight American service women were captured as POWs in the Philippines. More than 1,600 nurses were decorated for bravery under fire and meritorious service, and 565 WACs in the Pacific Theater won combat decorations. Nurses were in Normandy on D-plus-four. Thankfully, brave women like Rosemary Frantz stepped up in service to our great country in her time of need.

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