He went to war where he met his wife. Frank was born in Woodworth, Louisiana. He entered Louisiana State University, but stayed only three months before going to work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in topographical mapping. In 1943, as his family moved to Shreveport, Frank was drafted into the U.S. Army that March. Shipped overseas as a replacement in the Second Infantry Division, he arrived in Europe on December 1, 1944 as a staff sergeant. Frank fought in the Battle of the Bulge, but remembers little of the conflict. He does recall a medic telling him that his company of 200 suffered about fifty-two casualties. One was Frank who spent three months in hospitals recovering from wounds. Frank received a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge, among other medals. When the war ended he was sent to Holland to work in the U.S. Embassy. There he met and married Joanna. He was discharged in May of 1946 as a staff sergeant