Frank DUBAY was born in Farrell, state of Pennsylvania on june 29th 1917.
Due to great depression he have to quit school in his 9th grade. He find a job at the Sharon Stell in Sharon town PA.
When United states entered to war, Franck joined the US army and was volunter to airborne training then attached to the 550th Glider Airborne infantry Battalion "A" company with rank of Sergent.
The 550th battalion was under command of Colonel Edward SACHS.
In may 1944, the unit was sent to Naples, Italy and in july they start glider training to prepare airborne operation prepare the invasion of Southern France.
Franck loaded in a Waco CG-4A american glider on august 14th with some of his mortar squad and landed on "D" day, august 15th on the landing zone "O", vineyards and fields between the villages of La Motte and Le Mitan. After landing and assembling unit, he took part to the liberation of town Le Muy south of his landing zone and then moved East, along the Mediterranean coast to town of Frejus, then Grasse, crossing the Var river valley, and moved north along the italian border to the Gorges de Daluis to arrived end of september in the area of Barcelonnette.
Snow came early in Barcelonnette he had to fight in Camp des Fourches area North of Jausier fighting germans in maginot line pillbox with french resistance fighters under command of Commandant BUREAU . In november 1944, after bevouacking near Lantosque, Vesubie valley the unit was moved by train north to reenforce Normandy troops and prepare battle of the Bulge fighting south of Bastogne.
On march first 1945 the 550th glider infantry battalion was deactivated. Franck DUBAY was attached with some of his men to M company , 3rd batallion of the 194th glider infantry regiment. Then he prepared and landed by glider near Wessel and Issel canal, Germany, during operation Varsity on march the 20 with mission of seizing Issel and protect 17th airborne right flank.
Franck DUBAY friends at the US temporary cemetery in Grand Failly, France. It was situated near de small village of Grand-Failly just 53 miles south of Bastogne, Belgium. The cemetery opened on december 20th 1944, just 4 days after the beginning of the battle of the Buldge offensive. About 2967 american soldiers were burried there. In 1948 boddy we relocated in Henry Chapelle cemetery bu a monument was erected at the cemetery place in 1985 by the citizen of Grand Failly.
When Franck DUBAY went back home he went back to the Sharon Steel and eventually became a supervisor. He bring back home few memorabilia exibited at our virtual
Franck was awarded of the Bronze star medal for his action during WWII and combat infantry badge for his glider landing and combat during operation Dragoon.
Franck DUBAY died on september the 5, 2011 at the age of 94.
research and copyright operation-dragoon.com. courtezy of his son Ted .
