In Memory Of

BATTAGLIA, FRANK P

Service Details
Date of Birth:
 -0001-11-30
Service No:
 728515
Rank:
 Trooper
Unit:
 1st Battalion
Unit 2:
 3 Commando
Regiment:
 Rhodesian Light Infantry
Date of Death:
 1978-03-06
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, by a ZIPRA machine gun nest, at Kavalamanja, Zambia during Op Turmoil
Commemoration
Cemetery:
 HARARE (WARREN HILLS) CEMETERY
Localitly:
 Harare (Salisbury)
Country:
 Zimbabwe
Additional Information
He was an American citizen from Florida and New York City. He was a Vietnam veteran having served with the U.S. 173rd Airborne. One week after being casevaced wounded his platoon suffered a severe ambush. One week after tour of duty his other platoon suffered a severe ambush. Frank served a full contract with the Spanish Foreign Legion. He received a great honour there to carry the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a huge religious feast day parade. Frank came to Rhodesia with his wife, and went to SAS training troop. His wife joined the Rhodesian Air Force and worked packing parachutes. Later Frank would always check the parachute packing number and had jumped with a chute packed by his wife a few times. Frank after SAS training joined 1 RLI 3 Cdo 14 Troop. He was an avid poker player and gave some young Rhodesian soldiers poker lessons while playing for matches. ref. "Rhodesian Roll of Honour" by P. Geldenhuys (Roll compiled by Dr. J. R. T. Wood)