The Watsonville Register-Pajaronian Roll of Honor includes the name of Aviation Ordinance Man First Class Eugene Vernon Upton Jr., who lost his life on the USS Franklin.

Little information regarding the life of this individual and his residency in Santa Cruz County has been found.

The American Battlefield Monuments Commission indicates that he entered the service from Missouri. An Internet source identified a Eugene V. Upton who lived in Springfield, Missouri who may have been his father. It is likely that Eugene had been stationed at the Naval Air facility in Watsonville prior to joining the USS Franklin.

On June 21, 1945, the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian reported:
“Eugene V. Upton Listed as Killed
Eugene Vernon Upton Jr. AOM1c, Watsonville, has been listed as killed in the Pacific area by the navy department, according to the Office of War Information.
Mr. Upton's wife was listed as Mrs. Mary Teresa Upton, 24 Front Street this city, but his name has not been on this newspaper's Roll of Honor and efforts to contact the family were unsuccessful.”

Aviation Ordnanceman First Class Eugene V. Upton Jr. died on March 19, 1945, aboard the USS Franklin; his body was never recovered or was buried at sea. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial. His awards include the Purple Heart.

(ABMC; USNM; WRP June 21, 1945 1:3; DANFS USS Franklin)