Some Did Not Return

Franklin C. Gough

Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army

The officers of Company C, as well as the men in the second platoon, all agree that Gough was not just one of the best – but the very best – officer in this whole European Theater, wrote Captain Beasley and Lieutenant Thornblom in a letter to Gough’s parents, October 23, 1944.

His men respected him and trusted him. There was never a moment’s hesitation from Lieutenant Gough when things looked bleak, action need to be taken and real leadership was required. At LSU in 1943 he learned those lessons becoming an ROTC Cadet Major.

  • Served under Patton

Franklin C. Gough was from New Orleans, Louisiana. His father owned a food brokerage, and Frank went to LSU, planning to join the family business after graduation. In July 1944, he arrived in Normandy and was assigned to General Patton’s Third Army, Company C, 320th Infantry Regiment and 35th Infantry Division.

  • Leader of Men

In France, Gough led his men into the gruesome hedgerows near St. Lo. The unit seized and held an important objective, allowing the division to advance. Later, he led a patrol through German lines to contact division troops that broke through the surrounding German position and relieved Gough’s battalion. He was awarded the Bronze Star for this action.

  • The Ultimate Sacrifice

On September 13, 1944, near Domtail, France, Gough led Company C through heavy artillery fire during an advance. They came under heavy machine gun fire and Gough, with his sergeant and two men, attacked the enemy position. Second Lieutenant Frank Gough was killed instantly, leading the way. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions and bravery that day.