1st Lt. Frank B. Walkup IV, 23, of Woodbury, Tennessee, died June 16, 2007, in Kirkuk, Iraq, from injuries sustained in Rashaad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position during dismounted operations. Walkup was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
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23 comments:
frank aka frank the tank was a dear friend of ours.he lived for the armu and died doing what he loved.we cant beileve he is gone.he is going to be greatly missed...we love you frank!
FRANKIE WAS MY NEPHEW BY MARRIAGE AND A WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN. FULL OF FUN AND MISCHIEF AS A CHILD WITH THE FACE OF AN ANGEL. HE IS WITH THE ANGELS NOW. I PRAY FOR HIS MOTHER LISA AND BROTHER TAYLOR.
LINDA BARTEE- OAKS, MEMPHIS, TN
Our prayers are with Frank's family. My sons have spoken highly of him. God be with you all.
Reta - Nashville, TN
FRANK MAN IM GONNA MISS YOU I WONT FORGET YOU BROTHER AND ALL THE TIMES WE HAD I REMEMBER THE BIG HUG YOU GAVE ME WHEN I GOT HOME FROM IRAQ AND WISH I COULD DO THE SAME FOR YOU
Frank will be missed by soo many people and he touched so many lives including mine ROTC trips were so much fun with him there All of the Drill Team members from RHS are sure to miss him
Tonya Murfreesboro, TN
My heart goes out to all of Frank's family. Frank was my cousin's step-son and I know she loved him dearly. I never met Frank, but I cried when I heard about his death on Sunday. I will never understand why people are taken from us when they are so young, but it is not our place to question why, you just have to know that he is in a better place.
I came by today to see you
I had to let you know
If I knew the last time that I held you was the last time
I'd have held you and never let go
It's kept me awake nights, wondering
Lie in the dark, just asking why
I've always been told
You won't be called home
Until it's your time
I guess heaven was needing a hero
Somebody just like you
Brave enough to stand up
For what you believe and follow it through
When I try to make it make sense in my mind
The only conclusion I come to
Is heaven was needing a hero
Like you
I remember the last time I saw you
You held your head up proud
I laughed inside
When I saw how you were standing out in the crowd
You're such a part of who I am
Now that part will just be void
No matter how much I need you now
Heaven needed you more
Cause heaven was needing a hero
Somebody just like you
Brave enough to stand up
For what you believe and follow it through
When I try to make it make sense in my mind
The only conclusion I come to
Is heaven was needing a hero
Like you
Heaven was needing a hero and that's you
Frank and I Graduated from Riverdale High School in 2001....My sympathy goes out his his family and wife. Although we have lost touch over the last 6 years, my last recollection of him was having a drink at Logan's in Murfreesboro,Tn about 3 years ago. Thank you Frank for serving our Country. YOU WILL GREATLY BE MISSED!!!!
Eric Phillips Chattanooga,TN
What can I say about Lt. Walkup a.k.a Frank da Tank. The man was more then just a platoon leader to me he was a friend, a mentor, and a brother in arms. He cared about his platoon more then he cared about himself. He would do anything no matter if it was as small as giving you his last smoke or as big as pulling quard for you just cause you were haveing a bad day. He was a loving husband. He was always talking about how much he loved his wife and how he couldn't wait to get back to her. Myself and the rest of the guys would have followed him anywhere and done anything he asked without so much as a blink of an eye. Not out of duty, but out of just a die hard love and respect for the man. My heart and prayer go out to his wife and family, he will never be forgotten and will be sorely missed.......(S)
1LT Walkup, Spartan-6; was my Platoon Leader here in Iraq. He came to me as a young 2LT and was eager to learn. He worked hard to earn their trust and confidence through always shouldering his share of danger and always looking out for them. The Soldiers in this platoon are feeling the loss of their leader and it will be an act of pure love and honor that we continue to push forward in this mission here. Frank and Mitzi, I am sorry for your loss and my heart goes out to Franks brothers and sisters who he talked about all the time. He was a true older brother. I keep trying to make sense of it all and I can't find a single answer. He had his whole life ahead of him and now it is over. Frank, I love you Brother. You died doing what we promised we would do...keep our men safe and always lead from the front. Your Spartan's will finish what you started and we will never forget.
"Never Surrender, Never Retreat"
SFC Christopher Noell
Spartan-7
Frank,
always full of energy, always taking care of everybody, always ready to help. You gave me some of the best moments of my life. I can't believe you're gone, good people should never leave. You leave an empty space in our lifes. Wherever you are, we are by your side.
I send my energy to Frank, Mitzi, the kids and your wife. My thoughts are with them and you are in my heart forever.
Missing you,
Silvia
My prayers are with your family in your time of loss. He was an american hero. Thank you for his service and your sacrafice.
I lost my brotherin Iraq on May 12 and I can feel some of your pain. God Bless you all and may he grant you the strenght and comfort in your time of need.
Frank was my sons platoon leader. I talked with rob shortly after it happened he told me that lt walkup as he called him was the heart of the platoon. He is having a very hard time with this he says the motivation is gone now. God bless your son for taking such good care of mine.
Frank was my cousin. I didn't know him well but sure appreciate his service to his country. He made his family and country proud! My prayers are with his family in Tennessee and Arizona. Thank you Frank, Jr. for giving your life to preserve the rights and freedoms we enjoy in this, the greatest country on God's green earth. We'll see you in heaven, your cousins Tim, John, Joseph & David Walker.
Frank B. Walkup IV is someone I never met, but tonight when the honor roll at the end of the Newshour on tv showed the pictures of 20 more servicemen killed in Iraq, his face stood out. My sympathy goes out to all the families of those who died and are wounded, but his photograph especially, with the life and spirit shining through, was especially hard to take. I hope that his loved ones can take solace in the fact that his generosity others speak of will always be remembered.
Frank will be truly missed. Although I havent spoken to Frank in years, I remember our times together as if it were yesterday. He had an awesome heart and a truly great spirit.
Thank you Frank for serving our country and I hope to see you again in Heaven someday.
I read in the Memphis paper today about the death of Lt. Walkup.I recognized the name and sure enough it was the son of my high school football teammate and his first wife also a former classmate.God bless you Frank and Lisa on the loss of your son. Thank you for your sacrifice and God bless you and the rest of Frank iv family.
For those of you that don't know Frank. Theres always one guy in every group that is just the wild man, the funny man, the caring man, the brother and the father and sometimes the child. Frank was seriously all those rolled up into one. Nobody should ever be taken but its funny how when someone does go, it always happens to be "THAT GUY"....Oh man he was seriously a very unique, amazing, full of energy, individual. My heart died the day I stepped foot on Iraqi soil and lost a brother in arms and I will never be the same. Frank and all the other brothers in arms, I love you from the deepest bottom of my heart and I promise you I will never forget you guys. I Promise You!!!
It's so hard for me to come to grips with the fact that someone so FULL OF LIFE is no longer here. Frank was so amazingly full of shining life that touched everyone he ever met. I never heard him say an ill word towards anyone. I guess we are all blessed to have gotten to know such an amazing soul while he was here. My heart truly breaks at the thought of his wife and family, and now reading about his platoon adds even more depth to the pain. They say that everything happens for a reason, but it is really difficult to see the necessity for the death of someone so young with so much ahead of him. We need to appreciate our soldiers and what they are sacrificing for us and this nation. Frank, you will truly be missed and never forgotten.
Frank its taken me almost a year to do this but i think about you so much and so often that every time i do it takes me back when you told me to move back to the truck. you saved me out there and im am so greatfull for you doing it for me. Mr and Mrs walkup your son saved my life on that sad day. your son is my hero from the first day that i meet him. there was one time were i had just got into country and i had'nt been able to call home to my parents and with the last few minuets on his phone he let me us them and it continued up until the day he left us. im so sorry it has taken me so long to write this. i think of frank everyday till the sun comes up till the sun goes down. Thank You Frank...My Brother My Hero.
Spc. Roger Olivas
Frank the Tank - it has been over a year since you left us and we have not forgotten you. Rest in peace, young warrior, rest in peace.
This is my first time writing here but i believe it's for the best. I learned to love Frank Walkup by how he treated all of us not by his rank. Frank treated everyone equal, no matter what anyone else said about the guy. Frank was someone that no matter what situation someone was in he would help you out of it. Lt. Walkup was suppose to leave FOB Doria because his rotation was up but his fearless Plt. Sgt. Noel wanted him to stay and take his place the next week. My favorite Lt. lost his life one day this week because SFC. Noel wanted to make a good impression on the new First Sergeant Jones. Lt. Walkup took Sgt. Noel's place with out thinking twice even though it meant he couldn't take a shower for over two weeks. Ultimately this would lead to Lt. Walkup's death. I Love Lt. Walkup for his bravery and leadership techniques that he passed on to the soldiers of A Co. 2-35. We will always miss you Frank. Hope To See You Again Brother.
I would like to address the Anonymous comment about SFC Noell MAKING 1LT Walkup stay while he made a impression on the new 1SG.
First of all, I never made and could not make 1LT Walkup do anything he didn't want to do. Secondly, all the PSG's were required to stay to and be counseled by the new 1SG due to the nature of him taking over the company. Pictures being taken of Soldiers outside the wire not in the proper uniform, etc.
1LT Walkup wanted to fight the fight, not the system. HE chose to stay at PB Doria. 1LT Frank Walkup was a damn good PL. That is without a doubt a Fact. I wish I would say the same about the Soldier that obviously doesn't know the first thing about what he is talking about.
Get your facts straight before you post next time. You simple took a Leader and made him a subordinate, which he was NOT.
1SG Christopher Noell
"RLTW"
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