Marty Beatty's Mission on Behalf of Frank
Frank Akins would one day have a great nephew who would be determined to see that the sacrifices of his long-dead relative received proper recognition. A police detective by training, Marty Beatty started in 1994 to gather evidence that Frank should have received military decorations for the incident outside Fismette that led to his death. He had put his life on the line, volunteering to go into no-man's land to retrieve wounded comrades. Almost all the material incorporated into this article is due to Marty's efforts at gathering evidence to this end.
At this writing, Marty is still pursuing the part of his mission concerning recognition of Frank's heroism on August 12, 1918. It has always been clear, however, that in being wounded in this action, he should have received the Order of the Purple Heart. In January 2001, Marty Beatty presented his evidence to the Department of the Army. On February 6, 2001 the United States Army published the order awarding the Purple Heart posthumously to Corporal Frank L. Akins [see below]. By remarkable coincidence, the family received Frank's medal, February 26, 2001, the very day America and the Akins Family Lose a Son went on-line at the Doughboy Center.
Displayed on Left [top to bottom]:
Purple Heart ribbon
Purple Heart boutoniere
Purple Heart Front showing Order Founder,
George Washington
Purple Heart Rear engraved with "For Military Merit,
Frank L. Akins"
Below
US Army Order Awarding the Purple Heart
Purple Heart Certificate
US Army Order
Purple Heart Certificate
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