Service News
Word of the award of a U. S. navy unit commendation ribbon-bar to Francis L. Junkins, seaman first class, who has been missing in action since July 6, 1943, has been received by his mother, Mrs. Kate Junkins, 507 ½ Sycamore street. Seaman Junkins was awarded the ribbon for service on the U. S. S. Helena during action against the enemy in the Solomons, where his ship was lost July 6. No word of him has been received yet concerning him.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, July 25, 1945, Page 5
Junkins Died on Helena
Francis Le Roy Junkins, 22, seaman second class in the navy, was reported officially dead Monday in a letter received by relatives here from the navy department.
He war reported missing in action July 24, 1943, when the ship on which he was serving at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, the USS Helena, was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific in Kula Gulf. [Note: USS Helena was torpedoed and sank July 6th, not the 24th.
Source: pacificwrecks.com/ships/usn/CL-50.html]
He had been in the navy since 1941, having enlisted when he was 18. Born Jan. 23, 1923, in Ottumwa, Ia., son of James H., now of Oskaloosa, Ia. and Mrs. Kate Junkins, 507 ½ Sycamore street, Waterloo. When he was 5 he moved with his parents to Waterloo and attended West Waterloo schools.
Surviving are his parents, on brother, Maurice E., fireman first class, stationed in San Diego, Cal., and a sister, Mrs. Maurice Gill, 1127 Steely street.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Monday, September 10, 1945, Page 2
