"Frank Singleton Killed in Battle around Manila" noted the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Frank was born in San Juan Bautista, California, on July 24 1925, to Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Singleton. Frank and his sister were raised in Santa Cruz and attended Live Oak and Branciforte Schools. In 1939 Singleton entered Santa Cruz High School and took courses to prepare him for the carpentry trade. In 1941 he left high school and found employment with the Union Ice Company where he continued to work until he entered the service.

Frank joined the US Army in San Francisco on May 10, 1943, was sent to Camp Roberts and later to Fort Ord, California, for training. After completing training in May 1944, Private Singleton was shipped to a replacement center in New Guinea and assigned to the 5th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division.

“The Division invaded Luzon, landing in the Lingayen Gulf area 27 January 1945, and fought its way to Manila by 3 February 1945. Prisoners at University of Santo Tomas were liberated and the 1st Cavalry had advanced east of Manila by the middle of February before the city was cleared. On 20 February the Division was assigned the mission of seizing and securing crossings over the Marikina River and securing the Tagaytay-Antipolo Line.”

Clearing the Japanese out of the city of Manila became a major challenge for the 1st Cavalry Division. On February 26, 1945, the 5th Cavalry Regiment was called upon to assault the Agriculture Building in the heart of Manila. As they advanced, they came under heavy fire from Japanese lodged in nearby apartments and the cavalrymen were forced to withdraw. It was possibly during this encounter that Private First Class Frank Singleton lost his life.

His body was buried in the Manila American Cemetery and among his awards is the Purple Heart.

(ABMC; NARA2; SCHSC, Pg. 18, SCSn March 23, 1945 1:2; WIKI, 1st Cavalry Division, The Battle of Manila by Thomas M. Huber)