Frank Henry Dillman

DILLMAN, FRANK HENRY Frank Henry Dillman, 85, died June 5, 2004 at the El Cajon Convalescent Hospital following complications from Pneumonia. He was born in Nebraska on January 24, 1919 and raised in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Frank joined the United States Marine Corps in 1938 and was part of the Old Fourth Marine Regiment. He was shipped to China before WWII and captured by the Japanese in 1942. He survived the Bataan Death March and carried a man for 5 miles over his shoulder. He was a P.O.W. in the Japanese prison camps in the Philippines for close to 4 fours. He survived enslaved labor in the copper mines as well as years of torture, starvation and diseases. Frank returned home to the USA in 1945. He married Jean Ann Dillman on September 21, 1946. They lived in Las Vegas, Nev. where she worked for the Las Vegas Sheriff Dept. and he worked as an insurance investor. They moved to San Diego in 1958 and raised a family. Frank always stayed actively involved in all Military functions and congressional meetings. He was the executive Director of the Pacific Memorial Freedom Foundation, Proclamation and authored a book called "A Time in History". He was a master bridge player and loved old western movies. Frank will always be remembered by his family for having great pride in his country and all his bravery and strength. Frank obtained many medals including Bronze Star w/combat "V", Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/1 Star, Army Presidential Unit Citation w/2 clusters, Prisoner of War, Good Conduct, China Service, American Defense Service w/1 star, American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign w/1 star, WWII Victory, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine Defense w/1 star, a Purple Heart. His plaque was placed on Mt. Soledad, May 1, 2004. Frank is survived by children Craig Dillman of El Cajon, Terry Dillman of North County, Mary Morgan of La Mesa, and Cindy Dillman of Irvine, six grandchildren and one great-grandson. A Service will be held at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery with full military honors on Tuesday, June 29, at 1 p.m. sharp. Donations will be accepted at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center, 2115 Park Blvd. San Diego, Ca 92101. Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com