Captain Frank Emil Hula
Silver Star
Frank Emil Hula was born April 6, 1923 in Cicero IL, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hula. It was in Cicero that he was raised and attended school. Joining the army during World War II, he attended NMAMC as a member of the Army Specialized Training Program from May to November 1943. He was later cited from bravery at the Anzio Beach landing. Following the war he remained in the Army. He was stationed in Korea for 12 months as part of the allied occupational forces prior to the outbreak of hostilities. At the outbreak of the war he was sent back from Honolulu and assigned as “L” Company Commander, 5th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 1st Cavalry Division. By August 1950 the enemy had driven allied forces back into a last ditch defensive pocket on the southeastern coast of Korea known as the Pusan Perimeter. Captain Hula entered combat in mid-August 1950 and over the next 30 days he and the other allied forces desperately made their stand against the North Korean invaders. On 15 September, the allied forces counterattacked by landing forces at Inchon behind the North Korean lines. The next day the allied forces broke out of the Pusan Perimeter and began a massive counterattack that would eventually drive them all the way to the Yalu River.
On 17 September, six days after being promoted, Captain Emil Hula was leading his company in a prolonged attack against Hill 160 near Waegwan. As the company moved up the hill it was pinned down by heavy fire from enemy machine guns and small arms. Captain Hula moved from his position and worked his way to the extreme front of his unit in order to personally direct the movement of his company. In the ensuing action and while moving above directing his men he was mortally wounded by an enemy sniper. Captain Frank Emil was survived by his wife, Nan, and their two sons, Frank and Craig.
He was 27 years of age at the time of his death in service to his nation and is today buried at the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood CA.