LT (jg) Francis L. Toner IV (1982-2006) I initially posted this picture on Frankies page, but tonight thought why limit the honor to his page? My friends in Virginia dont know who Frankie is, so allow me... Frankie was the quintessential all American boy; handsome, athletic, fun, funny, smart, and popular because he befriended EVERYONE. I cant tell you how many times he bailed me out in a jam (hello my first accident on PCH?!) and I know Im not the only one. Frankie was deployed with an embedded training team at a base in northern Afghanistan. An Afghan insurgent posing as an Afghan National Army soldier shot and killed him on March 27, 2009. As his Silver Star citation recounts, “In seconds, officers were shot and lying wounded on the ground. The gunman proceeded to shoot one of the wounded officers. . . . Toner, unarmed, verbally challenged the insurgent and continued to advance until he was fatally wounded.” Frankie was scheduled to return home the week he was shot and killed... A picture isnt worth much, because its only an image and cannot capture or share the true heart and soul of the man in it. But not everyone was fortunate enough to have known Frankie, so a picture will have to do. You were and are loved friend, and never forgotten!!! defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=65448 blog.usni.org/2011/12/28/admiral-mullen-awards-silver-star-to-lt-jg-francis-l-toner-usn-posthumously vcstar/news/westlake-football-champ-killed
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 04:45:52 +0000