William Franklin "Frankie"

William Franklin “Frankie” Knox was born on 01-01-1874, in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents were both Canadian, his father was from New Brunswick and his mother Sarah Barnard, was from Charlottetow, Prince Edward Island. When he was nine, his family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where his father ran a grocery store. He attended Alma College in Michigan, where he was a member of the Zeta Sigma Fraternity. During the Spanish-American War, he joined the Army, and served in Cuba with the Rough Riders. After the war, Knox became a newspaper reporter in Grand Rapids. This was the beginning of a career that included ownership of several papers. He changed his first name to Frank around 1900. In 1912 as founding editor of New Hampshire's Manchester Leader, forerunner to the New Hampshire Union Leader he supported Theodore Roosevelt’s Progressive ticket. (see Roosevelt). However, with that exception, he adhered to the Republican Party. During World War I, Knox was an advocate of U.S military preparedness and then of participation in the war. When the U.S. declared war on Germany, he rejoined the Army. He reached the rank of Major and served as an artillery officer in France. After the war he returned to the newspaper business. In 1930, Frank Knox became publisher and part owner of the Chicago Daily News. During World War II, Knox, again was an advocate of preparedness. As an internationalist, he supported aid to the Allies and opposed isolationism. In July 1940, he became Secretary of the Navy under Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who sought create bi-partisan support for his foreign and defense policies following the defeat of France. As Secretary, Frank Knox carried out Roosevelt's plan to expand the Navy into a force capable of fighting in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He traveled extensively to Navy installations worldwide. After the German massacre of civilians in the Czech village of Lidice on 10-06-1942 in reprisal for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich (see Heydrich).      Knox said  "If future generations ask us what we are fighting for, in World War II, we shall tell them the story of Lidice. On 10-06-1944 also the massare of Oradour sur Glane took place (see Diekmann) Following a brief series of heart attacks, Secretary Knox    died in Washington, D.C. on 28-04-1944, age 70, while still in office. He was buried with his wife Annie, born Reid, who died age 72, on 22-09-1958, on Arlington National Cemetery, Section 2, with full military honors. Section 2. Close by in section 2, the graves the Generals Edward Almond (see Almond), Frederick Anderson (see Anderson), Frederic Bell (see Bell), William Blandy (see Blandy) Clovis Byers (see Beyers), Robert Carney (see Carney), Claire Chennault (see Chennault), Willis Crittenberger (see Crittenberger), Benjamin Davis (see Davis), John Dewitt (see Dewitt), William Donovan (see Donovan), Speck Easley (see Easley), Merrit Edson (see Edson), Robert Eichelberger (see Eichelberger), Frank Fletscher (see Fletscher), William Fechteler (see Fechteler) and Ridgeley Gaither (see Gaither).