US Navy Seaman 2nd Class Frank Gilbert Cherry was born in Pensacola, Florida on September 1, 1918, the son of Henry Washington Cherry (1876-1943) and Hazie Dell Coe (1885-1961). His father was born and raised in Pensacola and was employed with the Pensacola Water Department since 1913. His mother Hazie was born in Pensacola, the daughter of a Confederate veteran with the 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment and married Henry in 1899 (see his history under his photo below).
Frank was also the grandson of Susan Jane Strickland Cherry (1851-1888) and James William Henry Cherry (1849-1890). His grandmother Susan was the daughter of Isaac and Narcissa Strickland from Geneva, Alabama. Susan's father was in the Confederate Army until he was killed in 1863. Following his death, Narcissa walked with her children from Geneva, Alabama to Gage’s Ferry on Perdido Bay, which was a distance of 121 miles. His grandfather James would migrate to Pensacola prior to 1880 via Ozark, Alabama and Walton County, Florida and supported his family cutting timber.
After enlisting in the US Navy, Frank found himself aboard the troop transport USS Wharton (AP-7) sailing from San Diego, CA for Honolulu, Hawaii. The ship arrived on September 5, 1941 and Frank and his shipmates debarked for the light cruiser USS Boise (CL-47). After the war began, the Boise performed escort duty and repairs before returning to Pearl Harbor for a special assignment. To create a diversion away from the Marine landing on Guadalcanal, the Boise was to conduct a raiding voyage to the Japanese homelands. The task force departed Pearl Harbor on July 27, 1942, and was to strike Honshu on August 8. Through fake radio traffic and other ruse techniques they led the Japanese to believe the Americans were invading Japan.
Afterwards, they returned to partake in the Guadalcanal campaign by confronting the Japanese fleet who were trying to prevent the loss of the island. On the night of October 11–12 October 1942, the Boise along with an American task force struck a Japanese naval group of cruisers and destroyers west of Guadalcanal. In the fight, the Boise was struck by shellfire several times to include two hits from an enemy heavy cruiser. One of those exploded against her heavy armor but caused little damage. The second penetrated beneath the waterline and exploded in one of the magazines between her gun turrets causing a powder fire and flooding. The strike put turrets 1, 2, and 3 out of commission plus killing 107 sailors and wounding many more. Afterwards, the Boise sailed for the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she underwent repairs until March 20, 1943.
Sadly, one of those men killed in the Battle of Cape Esperance on October 12, 1942, was Pensacolian Frank Gilbert Cherry. His family was notified at their home at 504 North "G" Street and told that his remains were returned to Pearl Harbor and buried in the Schofield Barracks Cemetery. There is no indication that he was buried at sea. His remains would be disinterred and reburied in 1952 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu where he rests today.
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