Posted by Ron Carlson on October 31, 2016, 9:29 am Edited by board administrator October 31, 2016, 9:36 am
Many of you have noted and commented upon Fran Kent’s absence from the Armed Guard message board. Fran posted his most recent messages in March of this year.
I am sad to report that I have learned that Fran sailed over that far horizon on April 8, 2016, at the age of 90. After some determined Internet sleuthing, I found that Fran and his late wife had one child, a son, who I was able to contact recently. He said that Fran declined rapidly in March and that in accordance with Fran’s wishes, “he died in his own home, in his own bed, surrounded by his books.”
As anyone who has followed this message board over the years knows, Fran was a regular presence. In fact, other than myself and our former webmaster, Tom Bowerman, Fran was the single most prolific poster on the message board. (I just checked: EVERY PAGE of the message board includes messages from Fran, often twenty or more.) Until April he never missed one of our monthly musters, and he generously and cheerfully offered recollections, reflections, advice and even some occasional poetry. Since Fran in his professional life had been a reporter, editor, columnist and author, his postings reflected his love of the language, sharing his thoughts with precision and care. Occasionally he fretted that he posted too often, a notion with which I always strongly disagreed. He and I shared occasional private e-mail communications, and he never failed to support and encourage me, especially when I first became webmaster in 2007. He was a gentleman.
In World War II Fran served in the Armed Guard as a radioman, having enlisted in the Navy on his 17th birthday. Between May 1942 and December 1946, when he was discharged, Fran sailed in four merchant ships and later in two U.S. Navy vessels. His voyages took him to the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Caribbean and finally the Pacific. He also served in the Korean War, by the end of which he had advanced to radioman first class. After the war he attended Indiana University, married and became a father, and ended up in California before retiring in 1990. You can find brief summaries of Fran’s wartime experiences at http://www.armed-guard.com/fkent.html and http://www.armed-guard.com/biogk.html (scroll down to his name).
In 1999 he said he first encountered Tom Bowerman via the Internet. Since the end of the war and up to that point, Fran had never met or heard from anyone else who had been in or even knew about the Armed Guard. Although they never met in person, Fran and Tom struck up a close friendship, to the point that Fran would later reminisce that Tom was like a brother to him. As an example both of Fran’s respect for Tom, and Fran’s fine touch with the English language, read Fran’s eulogy for Tom at http://www.armed-guard.com/trb.html.
The already-small community of Armed Guard veterans, family members and friends as found on the Armed Guard message board has lost one more. I will miss Fran’s presence and his warm and thoughtful words. Thank you, Fran.
Peace be to his memory.
Ron Carlson, Webmaster Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website www.armed-guard.com
Re: Fran Kent
Posted by Melinda Hefner on January 8, 2022, 11:41 pm, in reply to "Fran Kent"
I've been away from this site so long, but I was holding out hope that Mr. Kent may still be with us. I'm sad to find that he's not, but I'm so grateful that our paths crossed. He was one of a kind and irreplaceable.
Re: Fran Kent
Posted by Ron Carlson on January 24, 2022, 8:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Fran Kent"
Melinda,
It is so nice to see your name on the message board once again. Fran's passing was a great loss to me, as I have tried to express. As you say, he was one of a kind. I miss him.
Don't be a stranger. Best wishes.
Ron Carlson
Re: Fran Kent
Posted by Melinda Hefner on January 24, 2022, 11:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Fran Kent"
Thank you for your kind response. I can't thank you enough for your continued work. As most of our Armed Guard heroes are coming to the end of life's journey, your work becomes even more important. We can never forget their sacrifice and service to our country and you've created a lasting memorial to their legacy.
I'll be 70 this year although I feel ageless and am, gratefully, in incredibly good health. I adopted three of my grandchildren so most of my time is spent being a grandmother, father, and mother to a 17, 13, and 10-year-old. In many ways they keep me young.
Time has passed so quickly. If more time passes before I get back, please know how grateful I am for everything you've done including giving me information that I never had before and, otherwise, would not have gotten. Thank you for always being so kind and welcoming. It's premature to say this but you never know what tomorrow brings so...Fair winds and following seas, Ron. Sending you my warmest regards and profound gratitude.
Re: Fran Kent
Posted by Harvel Arnold on October 31, 2016, 11:51 am, in reply to "Fran Kent"
So sad to hear of the passing of Mr. Kent I enjoyed reading his post He will be will be missed and remembered by this old sailor. Farewell Mr. Kent