Sylvan Franklin Thornburg-(1927-2007):
Due to a hearing deficiency, Frank was unable to join the Navy, but
managed to enlist in the US Coast Guard/ Merchant Marine. He served from
1944-1947. He served as a messman aboard the SS Defiance, the Coastal
Buccaneer and the SS Elmer A. Sperry. On his first voyage with the SS
Defiance, he sailed around the world. The Merchant Marine carried supplies
to our troops around the globe. Following the war, the Merchant Marine
carried supplies to help war-torn countries until they could re-build
their economies.