Frank Bort 

Frank Bort was born in Youngstown, Ohio in 1945 and grew up on his grandfather’s farm around Canfield, Ohio. After graduating from high school, Bort attended St. Gregory’s Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio for two years and then John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio for three years. Shortly after graduating from John Carroll University, Bort received a draft notice. He then began his twelve-week training in September 1968 in Fort Knox, Kentucky. From there, Bort moved to advanced infantry in Fort Polk, Louisiana and then to NCO-School in Fort Benning, Georgia. After going to NCO-School, Bort returned to Fort Polk to complete an eight-week program in which he served as a junior instructor. Then, in October 1969, Bort traveled to Camp Evans in Huế Phu Bai, Vietnam where he served in the Charlie Company 2nd Battalion of the 506th Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne. Soon after arriving in Vietnam, Bort was sent to the hospital ship, the USS Sanctuary, to get his hearing checked. He was then sent to the 7th Field Hospital in Japan to have a pilonidal cyst treated and ended up staying there until after Christmas. Bort returned to Vietnam in January 1970. Later, in March, Bort and the rest of his unit finally had contact with the enemy, and in April, they were instructed to help establish a firebase at Ripcord. In the beginning of July, Bort was present when Hill 902 was overrun. Later in July, he was also present at the Hill 1000 attack, which Bort claimed was the most momentous day he had while in Vietnam. Bort’s service ended in August 1970 when he got an early out and returned to the United States to attend graduate school.