Frank Joseph Bosco

Providence, Rhode Island

February 3rd, 1950 - June 21st, 1969

After They Are Gone

When someone we love passes away,
We ache, but we go on;
Our dear departed would want us to heal,
After they are gone.

Grief is a normal way to mend
The anguish and pain in our hearts;
We need time to remember and time to mourn,
Before the recovery starts.

Let's draw together to recuperate,
As we go through this period of sorrow;
Let's help each other, with tender care
To find a brighter tomorrow.

By Joanna Fuchs

A man is not dead until he is forgotten.

Remember you are not forgotten while I am still on patrol.

Frank J Bosco

RIP Frank

RIP Frank

1st Recon Battalion Association

1st ReconBattalion

Photo Gallery

1st Recon Battalion Association

1st Reconnaissance Battalion

Delta Company

1968 - 1969

1st Reconnaissance Battalion

1950-1969

This photo was taken at Camp Reasoner in Da Nang in November 1968. It is the 3rd Platoon, 1st Force Recon Co., Team call sign, "Moose Peak".

Kneeling front left to right: Cpl. Sammy Carver, Lcpl. John Carr. Pfc John Wells.
Standing rear left to right: Lcpl. Terry Campbell, Ho Chi Minh, Lcpl. Robert Regan,
Cpl. John Mcdonugh, Sgt. Robert Buda.

The photo was obtained on patrol on Charlie Ridge when the team over ran an NVA antiaircraft gun position. The photo and a large quantity of NVA weapons and gear were recovered. Missing from the team photo is Pfc Jim Sincere who was killed in the action against the gun position and Paul (Doc) Roshong who was severely injured during the rapell insert and again while giving aid to Pfc. Sincere.

Delta Company

1st Reconnaissance Battalion

October  2nd, 1968 - June 21st, 1969

Frank was KIA 51 years ago on June 21, 1969 when his team was shot down on an insert into Elephant Valley. He is missed

Jim MacQuaide and Frank Bosco

Delta Company

Team MayFly / Grade Level 

Frank Bosco

Frank Joseph Bosco's name on the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery Vietnam Memorial

North Burial Ground

LCpl Frank Joseph Bosco

Birth: Feb. 3, 1950 Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Death: Jun. 21, 1969 Quang Nam, Vietnam

Frank the son of Carl Bosco and Amelia D. Bosco of Providence Rhode Island enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on April 19 1968 in Providence RI. He arrived in Vietnam on October 2 where he was assigned to and served with Company D, 1st Recon Battalion, 1st MARDIV (Rein) FMF.

On June 21, a CH-46D from HMM-165 was attempting an insertion of a Recon team on the north bank of the Karum Haran River 3 kilometers inside the Nam Hoa District border and Thuong Duc District in Quang Nam Province when it was hit by enemy ground fire. The aircraft pitched, rolled and crashed killing six members of the recon team and two crew. One of the casualties was LCpl Frank Bosco who was killed from the injuries he sustained in the crash due to the hostile enemy fire.

Casualties that day from

HMM 165 MAG-16:

William Lee Peters Jr.
Paul Edward Petroline

Delta Company 1st Recon Bn

Frank Joseph Bosco
Arthur Coby Councill III
Robert Lincoln Crites
James Oscar Hall Jr.
William Garrett Schanck Jr.
Richard Anthony Weil

Frank Joseph Bosco

MAYFLY TRIBUTE

Frank J Bosco's name on the Vietnem Memorial Wall Washington DC

The North Burial Ground is a 110-acre cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island dating to 1700, the first public cemetery in Providence. It is located north of downtown Providence, bounded by North Main Street, Branch Avenue, the Moshassuck River, and Cemetery Street.

Delta Company "Vesper Bells"

Last Known Activity
SHOT DOWN DURING RECON INSERT, NORTH BANK OF KARUM HARAN RIVER. 

LCpl. Bosco was a passenger aboard a Marine CH-46D (#154811) from HMM-165 that received hostile fire, crashed and burned. He was part of a Recon Team, "Mayfly" 1st Recon Battalion Mission.

North Burial

Ground

Panel W22, Line 102

War Story

 
Comments on Incident: 21 June 1969 at 1130 Hours. 22 1/2 miles northwest of Danang, Quang Nam Province, RVN. Crew flying on CH-46D on recon extraction. A/C received small arms fire causing A/C to crash and burn. LCPL W.T. GIBSON, gunner, received contusion to right arm and laceration to right knee, CPL J.E. GAUVIN, gunner, received fractured right "manoible" and dislocation of right shoulder. 1stLT S.W. JORGENSEN, copilot, received laceration to nose. Submitted by John Lane. Source: http://www.popasmoke.com/kia/690621/notforgotten.html Comments on Incident: This is the report I wrote to my company about the shooting down on 21 June, 1969 of the airplane of HMM-165, flown by 1st Lt. William "Lee" Peters, who was killed. The Gunner [crew chief] LCpl Paul Petroline was also killed. At approximately 1045 on 21June 1969, BuNo 154811 was attempting to insert a recon team at position ZC033864. The attempt was abandoned because of enemy opposition, and the aircraft was moving away when the gunner heard a loud explosion from the controls closet area. The co-pilot thinks that they lost boost presure. (the co-pilot is still in a state of shock from the accident and does not clearly remember what happened. It is suspected that the aircraft as hit in the controls closet area by a Rocket Propelled Grenade [RPG]. The aircraft then went out of control and crashed." "The pilot, crew chief, and six (6) members of the recon team were killed, and the co-pilot, the two (2) gunners, and the remaining two(2) members of the recon team were injured. The aircraft burned and is considered a strike." "The aircraft is in very unfriendly territory and examination of the wreckage has not been possible. It is unlikely the the risk of sending a team in to examine the wreckage will be taken so that definite confirmation of the suspected happenings is also unlikely. Submitted by John Dullighan, Boeing Tech Rep, CH-46D, HMM-165. NAVY CROSS CITATION - W.L. Peters - from a previous mission: For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 in the Republic of Vietnam on 12 April 1969. First Lieutenant Peters launched as Wingman in a section of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned to helilift a reconnaissance team into hostile territory. After arriving over the designated location, the lead aircraft inserted the Marines without incident but, while lifting off, the aircraft came under a heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire and sustained extensive damage. Observing that the reconnaissance team was pinned down where it had disembarked and that the Marines were surrounded by a numerically superior hostile force, First Lieutenant Peters circled the area while helicopter gunships and fixed wing aircraft bombed and strafed the enemy soldiers who clung tenaciously to their positions only 20 feet from the beleaguered unit. When the supporting aircraft had expended its ordnance, First Lieutenant Peters, fully aware of the possible consequences of his actions but concerned only with the welfare of the men on the ground, fearlessly elected to attempt the extraction and, as he approached the landing zone, became the target for intense automatic weapons fire. Although numerous rounds penetrated his helicopter, he landed in the fire-swept area and, with calm presence of mind, resolutely maintained his dangerously exposed position, despite a fanatical assault by two North Vietnamese Army soldiers who were killed by the reconnaissance team. Assuring that the ground unit was safely aboard, he then quickly lifted from the zone under an increasingly intense volume of fire from the frustrated enemy which damaged a vital control section of his helicopter. In a brilliant display of superb airmanship and unwavering devotion to duty, First Lieutenant Peters saved his fellow Marines from serious injury or possible death and thereby upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. 

Photo Gallery

Frank Joseph Bosco

Frank Joseph Bosco

Photo Gallery

Patrol Report

Patrol Report

Hello, do you have any clean copies of the photo with my uncle Frankie in them if so please send them to me via email or text. My number is (Not on site). Thank you

7/12/2020 11:42 AM

Name: George Bosco
Email: redsoxmeng11@gmail.com
Phone number: Not on website.
Subject: Frank Bosco

Message: Hello. My name is George Bosco. Frank Bosco's nephew. I was the last Bosco born before my son Giovanni. I never got to meet my uncle Frankie because I was born in 84.

You guys have the only picture in color I've ever seen of my uncle Frankie. If you have any pictures of him please send them to me. My mother has since passed away, his sister Fran. I have no pictures or anything of his. Please if you could send me any and every thing you have. I just broke down in tears. Thank you again so much for making my day. I love you guys for this. With all that's going on he'd feel good to see my uncle Frankie in color.

7/12/2020 11:31 AM

July 21st, 2020    10:04pm

1st Recon Battalion Association

George,

Your uncle was a good man. I met him a couple times back in 68/69. All the photos of Frank that we have are on his web page. Here's a link to Frank's web page. I'll post your email on the website today. I'll add all responses to his web page. Stay safe and I hope to hear from you soon.

George Bosco  redsoxmeng11@gmail.com

Thank you.

I really appreciate this.

July 21st, 2020    10:05pm

S/F Floyd Ruggles

1st Recon Battalion Association

Membership Director/Webmaster

Delta Company