Drafted into the Vietnam War, Francis (Frank) Sheehan served in the Army from August 1965 to August 1967.
Born and raised in Chicago’s Canaryville neighborhood, Sheehan and four of his brothers served in Vietnam. Another brother was too old for the draft, another was too young and still another was exempt as he was priest, said Sheehan’s son Barry.
Sheehan’s unit provided logistical and supply support out of Cam Ranh Bay on the southeastern coast of Vietnam for 12 months.
Today, Sheehan lives at Glen Ellyn’s Churchill Place, an Anthem Memory Care community. He has dementia and is unable to recall any events related to his military service, his son said.
Sheehan participates in the Veterans Day ceremony at Churchill Place and attends activities, often wearing his signature Vietnam Veteran hat.
During active duty he was qualified on the M-14 rifle, and he received the National Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Honorably discharged in August 1967 as a specialist 4th class, Sheehan went on to work at IBM for 25 years, doing some of the work he learned in the Army during his career.
He later worked for the Cook County Department of Corrections, retiring af...