We lost my brother Franklin D. Bryant on October
4, 1999 due to lung cancer (He did not smoke). He
was only 58 years old. old. Frank was born on
November 1, 1940, in Gravelly, Arkansas. He was
raised on a farm near Fresno, California from age 5
to 9, then on a farm in Oregon until he joined the
army right out of high school. Frank remembers
driving a tractor as early as age 5.
As a boy, Frank was curious about everything.
When he was about 5 years old, he crawled under
Dad's car chasing a column of ants to see
where they were going and what they were doing.
Dad did not know he was under the car and ran
over his leg. Luckily his leg was not broken, but
very sore and sprained. Our sister Joyce and I
pulled him around in a red wagon until his leg
was healed. Frank told Joyce when they were
grown that he really enjoyed his rides and
milked his injury as long as he could for the
rides and attention.
When he was about 8 years old, we got new
bicyles. Within 3 days, curious Frank had his
bike completely apart, to see how it was put
together! After Dad was over being upset with
him, he helped Frank put the bike back
together again...
Frank worked very hard at different jobs to earn
money as he was growing up. In the summer, he
worked on the farm and the rest of the year, he
had paper routes. The weather never stopped him
I remember one winter, the snow was very deep
and I went on his route with him for one day only.
It was very hard.
When he was a teenager, Frank and his friend
Wayne would stand on the corner and sing to the
girls. They both were pretty good and got a lot of
attention from the girls!! They both joined the
army together right out of high school. Frank
spent his 18th birthday in Korea.
We did not always stay in close contact with each
other, but Frank was always there for me when I
needed him. When my first husband died in 1960
Frank was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington.
They were as close as brothers. Frank managed to
get leave, so he could be here. And of course,
when we lost our Dad in 1981, Frank was there for
all of us. When my oldest daughter died in 1979,
and my oldest son in 1999, just 3 months before
Frank, he was here for me. He gave me strength
and courage. We also lost one of our younger
daughters to leukemia in July, 2000 and I really
missed Frank's being here.
Frank and his family have lived in the Orange
County area of California, since the early 1960's.
For the last several years, Frank would bring his
wife, Merlene, both his daughters, Eileen and
Kathy, and his two grandchildren, Nicole and
Kyle to our family reunions in Oregon. He
enjoyed directing the games, and one year, the
smaller children were having a race, when he
noticed that a 3 year old girl was having a problem,
so he put her way ahead of the others to start the
next race. She won, of course...Then he teased
his grandson Kyle for the next year that he let a girl
3 years younger than him beat him in the race.
We all love and miss Frank so very much.....
OUR HERO
Husband, Father, Brother, Son, Grandfather,
Soldier, Leader, Citizen and Friend: Frank Bryant
was truly a hero. Even as we mourn his passing,
we celebrate his life---a life of service and
commitment graced with humor and love.
Frank's military career took him to Korea and
as a Cobra helicopter pilot in Vietnam, Frank
was shot down twice and received a Distinguished
Flying Cross for Valor. During his combat career
of over 110 missions, he was decorated with 22
Air Medals (2 for Valor), 2 Bronze Stars, 3
Commendation Medals (2 for Valor), a
Vietnamese Honor Medal, a Vietnamese Cross of
Gallantry, and 9 additional service medals. He
was also an honors graduate of the California
Military Academy.
When Frank met Merlene, he was stationed in
Yuma, Arizona. Merlene wasn't interested in the
brusque soldier who kept asking her out, but she
finally said yes just to show him how incompatible
they'd be. They were married in 1973 and moved
to Fountain Valley.
Frank's service to his community has had
significant impact on the people and businesses
the people and businesses of Orange County.
Deeply committed to the needs of children, he
chaired or was president of many organizations
dedicated to providing recreational facilties for
our youth. He chaired or was president of many
civic organizations and service groups. In 1975,
Frank was named Citizen of the Year in
Fountain Valley.
Many people didn't know about the medals and the
awards that meant so much to Frank. Instead, they
knew him for his gentle demeanor, his quick one-
liners and his quiet confidence. In a collection of
notes and instructions Frank prepared before he
died, he expressed his dismay that he was unable
to say how much he really cared for the people
around him. He tried to show it by working so
hard for charities, and he hoped we'd notice.
We did.
SILENT HERO
from the writings of Frank Bryant
While you are sitting in this church and feeling sad
Think of the good times and laughter we shared
I want you to notice that I am not there
But not to the point of sadness and despair
Chorus
So don't stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die
Just use my name as a reason to toast
These are the words of a silent hereo
I loved the thunder, the lightning, and the rain
And always felt uplifted even when it was calm again
I would like to be remembered by each of you
for only, The reasons you best recall and that
make you think of me
Chorus
He spent his life volunteering for others
So he could show the world the extent of his love
He loved to make people laugh, he touched us with
his humor, And he quietly touched our hearts as
our silent hero
Chorus
-adapted by Jessica Thompson
Thanks to the courtesy of Roger Young, Silver Spurs
webmaster for the following six pictures.
Silver Spurs
A Troop, 3/17th Air Cavalry
Taps...
Franklin D. Bryant
Photo courtesy of Terry Shulze
Terry writes:
"I am sending a picture of Capt. Bryant standing
in front of a very damaged Cobra that went down in
the Rung Sat with engine failure. Bryant was the
front seater, I remember him telling me that he was
concerned on the way down about the main rotor, ...
but the mud of the Rung Sat looks like it finally
found a purpose, cushioning a helicopter's impact."
Frank, Silver Spur 3, served with us in our
Gun
Platoon and as Operations Officer
from 2 Nov 69 to 31 Oct 70.
Flying Slick courtesy of Mark Aaron, HHT
HIGH FLIGHT
John Gillespie, Magee, Jr.
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds...and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of...Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while the silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God
A few songs Frank enjoyed. May add more later.
He and his grandson sang Happy Trails together.
Happy Trails
Hero
Romeo and Juliet
To Sir With Love
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In Loving Memory
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Tricia Bethell-Bradburry
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Henry Franklin Bryant
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Rick D. Bethell
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Franklin D. Bryant
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Tammy Peterson-Stevens
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Dessie Kitchens-Bryant-Under Construction
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Leslie Gene Peterson-Under Construction
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Richard W. Bethell-Under Construction
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Those we love are with the Lord, and the
Lord has promised to be with us.
If they are with Him, and He is with us,
They cannot be very far away.
Peter Marshall
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