Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Staff Sergeant (Sergeant-Major)

Unit:

Company L, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division "Thunderbird", U.S. Army (Company L, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division "Thunderbird", U.S. Army)

Franklin L. Adams, 38016924, Staff Sergeant, 180th Infantry, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services in Sicily and Italy from 10 July 1943 to 15 January 1944. As squad leader and platoon sergeant of Company L, 180th Infantry, Staff Sergeant Adams at all times showed outstanding leadership ability. When his boat team was beached seven miles from the company area, he demonstrated his leadership capabilities when he successfully led his detachment to rejoin the company, voluntarily assisting other units to seize objectives and evacuate their wounded on the way. Throughout his services in Sicily and Italy, Staff Sergeant Adams continually exercised initiative and aggressiveness in leading his unit on difficult missions. Through his natural ability and complete devotion to duty, his platoon succeeded in capturing difficult missions and in repulsing numerous enemy attacks. His complete and thorough handling of each assignment contributed materially to the combat efficiency of his organization and is a credit to the Armed Forces of the United States. Entered service from Marlow, Oklahoma.