Frank George Wassilak enlisted in the Coast Guard Reserve in April 1942 and arrived from Naval Operation Base Norfolk VA at 1500 hours on 18-OCT 1943. He was reporting to a brand new Edsall-class destroyer escort USS Leopold built for the United States Navy manned by a Coast Guard crew. This was the first crew on the new ship thus making him what the Navy termed a “plank holder.” Frank would serve in the North Atlantic and convoy duty. On 9-MAR 1943, they encountered U-boat 255. A torpedo was fired at the USS Leopold from point blank range.
For the rest of Frank’s story, click on the pdf below.