‘As ever, Frankie’
Letters, cards give voice to Laguna Pueblo man who lost life during World War II
Dear Mrs. Sarracino:
My deepest sympathy goes to you in the death of your son, Technical Sergeant Frank B. Sarracino, who died in action against the enemy . ... In your son’s death I have lost a gallant comrade and mourn with you. Very faithfully, Douglas MacArthur
That letter from Gen. Douglas MacArthur, commander-in-chief of United States Army Forces in the Pacific, was addressed to Mamie B. Sarracino, Old Laguna, New Mexico.
It was dated Oct. 10, 1945, nearly a year after her son, Frank, a member of Laguna Pueblo, lost his life when a Japanese ship carrying 1,781 American prisoners was torpedoed on Oct. 24, 1944, by a U.S. submarine, whose crew was unaware Americans were on board the ship they attacked.
Only nine of those American POWs survived. Frank Sarracino was 27 when he died.
Today, Veterans Day, is a time to reflect on the service and sacrifice of all military veterans, those who served in war zones and those who didn’t, those who came home and those, like Frank Sarracino, who did not.
How many sons and daughters, nieces and nephews and grandchildren of U.S. military personnel never understood what their relatives experienced during their time in the ranks because they never asked?
How many never got the chance to ask because their kinfolk did not return?
War chief
Dear Mother — I am sending you a card again to let you know I am still alive and in the best of health. I hope everything is taken care of. Please give my best regards to my dear brothers, sisters and relatives. May our Dear God Bless You All.
Frank Sarracino sent that undated postcard to his mother from a Japanese prisoner of war camp in the Philippines.
It is among the items related to Sarracino assembled by brothers John and Mel Antonio, Frank Sarracino’s nephews.
Last week they sat at a table in John’s Northeast Albuquerque home, the accumulated information close at hand. They showed a visitor the framed citations and the Purple Heart presented to Sarracino posthumously.
Mel and John’s mother, Ruby Sarracino Antonio, was Frank’s sister. Ruby was a teenager when Frank went into the Army.
“According to my mom, he (Frank) was a war chief or war captain at Laguna,” said Mel, 74, who makes his home in San Antonio, Texas.
Mel said the war chief’s role in centuries past when Laguna Pueblo was fending off attacks by Apache and Navajo enemies, was more proactive than it was when his Uncle Frank had the job. Mel said the war chief’s role was more symbolic in his uncle’s day.
“But he also had some extra duties that were related to the culture and tradition of the tribe, ceremonials,” said John, 71.
Mel and John were born after World War II ended. To get a glimmer of what their uncle was like, they had to rely on the memories of older relatives and stories told by men who served with and/or were imprisoned with Sarracino in Japanese POW camps in the Philippines.
Military records help, too. The latter show that Frank Sarracino was inducted into the Army in Santa Fe on March 28, 1941, months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Assigned to the 200th Coast Artillery, he was sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, for training. Then the 200th was deployed to the Philippines, arriving in those islands in September 1941.
From January to April 1942, the 200th was among the American and Filipino forces engaged in fierce fighting with the Japanese during the Battle of Bataan.
Forced to surrender on April 9, 1942, American and Filipino troops were subjected to the infamous Bataan Death March, during which many died while being moved on foot to prison camps throughout the Philippines.
Frank Sarracino was in one of those prison camps until October 1944, when he and more than 1,700 other prisoners were put on the Japanese ship Arisan Maru. It was bound for Japan when it was torpedoed by the American sub.
‘My Dearest Rosie’
Mel and John are members of Laguna Pueblo. They try to imagine what their Uncle Frank’s life was like before he went into military service.
“They had gardens (at Laguna) he worked in, and he hunted deer and antelope,” Mel said. “We understand he had training as an auto mechanic, which helped him out tremendously in the prison camp.”
The family learned from men who survived the prison camps that Frank Sarracino did maintenance on Japanese vehicles and also worked as chauffeur for Japanese officers.
“We heard that when he came back from chauffeuring he would have his pockets filled with candy, which he would pass out to the other prisoners,” Mel said.
Mel and John said one man told their cousin Deanne Rose Chiwewe, Frank Sarracino’s daughter, that Sarracino pleaded with the Japanese to spare the lives of men they were going to execute.
Deanne Rose’s mother was Rose Martinez, a young Acoma Pueblo woman who was Frank Sarracino’s girlfriend. She was pregnant with their daughter when Frank went into the Army, but they were not married. Angel Island, California Aug. 25, 1941 My Dearest Rosie, ... Sweetheart how are you ... please dear be happy, and I be the same . ... Please let (me) know soon our kid birth dearest Rose. I still keep my promise, because I don’t want to fool you, yes dear it’s all my fault . ... I will (marry) you my dear soon ...
... tomorrow we leaving on board ship to philippine (sic) Island ... There are (couple) of Acoma boys here ... and from my home too, and please don’t worry about me I will take good care of my self, I am doing fine . ...
Ever as ever Frankie
‘Wish I was home’
On Sept. 3, 1941, Frank wrote Rose from an Army transport ship in Honolulu. He was still anxious to know about the birth of their baby.
He wrote that the ship was stopping just 12 hours at Honolulu before sailing on to Manila in the Philippines. He gave her the address at which he could be reached in Manila and promised to mail her some stamps so she wouldn’t have to pay the 40 cents to send a letter by airmail.
The letter noted his wonder at being in Hawaii, a place he had seen in the movies.
When I get old I tell the stories (to) my dear grand child. You be Grandma. My beloved Rosie, I bet you laugh, dear.
Another letter to Rose is postmarked Philippine Island and dated Feb. 24, 1942. The Battle of Bataan was underway then, but Sarracino didn’t touch on that.
I’m happy all the time and have a lots fun here in P.I . ...
How’s the weather around home? Snowing or raining. Boy out here in P.I. no winter. Its summer all way around, damp hot, and pretty (soon) will be a rain season around April ...
I almost forgot to tell you dear that we have a Indian dance here one night lots a fun, four of my friends ... I made a drum We really laughed each other we made a knew (sic) song ... . (Buffalo) dances song and Eagle dance song. Everybody enjoyed the dance cause they never ... heard a song (or) seen how they dance.
I wish (I) was home and dance like I used to when they have dances around home.
Still remembered
The letters stopped and prison camp postcards started.
Dear Mother: I rec’d your letter & box: Was very happy — love to see you. Thank the Lord has taken care the family and our live-stock. Give best regards little Rosie and mother & to you all. Also relatives. May God
bless you all Your loving son
The last postcards Frank Sarracino wrote were received by his family months after the prison ship he was aboard was torpedoed.
That and the fact an officer who had served with Sarracino said he remembered seeing him in the
Philippines the month after the ship went down gave his family hope that there had been a mistake and Frank was still alive.
But during World War II, it often took months for mail to be delivered. And the officer apparently was wrong about when he had last seen Sarracino.
Frank did not return to dance the old dances at Laguna Pueblo.
Mel and John and other relatives who survive Sarracino, including his daughter and grandson, take comfort in memories, stories, military records and honors.
They didn’t know Frank. But they remember him.