Early Life in Rural Kansas
Francis Richard Long was born on December 9, 1924, in Trenton, Missouri, the only child of Raymond “Ray” Long and Lela Wagner Long. When he was just three months old, the Long family moved to a farm near Berwick, Kansas, beginning a life deeply rooted in the rural traditions of Nemaha County. Francis attended Hilt School, where he received his early education before the family relocated to Eureka, Kansas. There, he spent the next ten years of his childhood.
Later, the Longs moved to a farm south of Sabetha, in the Price neighborhood. Francis enrolled for one year at Bern High School, after which he left school to help his father with the farming operation. Known as a quiet, dependable young man, he was raised in a family that valued service—his father, Ray, was a World War I veteran and a member of the American Legion Post No. 126 in Sabetha until his death at age 95.
Answering the Call to Serve
With World War II still raging and the need for troops growing, Francis was inducted into the U.S. Army on June 12, 1944, just six months after his 19th birthday. He began his basic training at Camp Hood, Texas, where he trained for five months before returning home on furlough in October 1944. This visit home would be the last time his parents saw him.
Following his furlough, he was transferred to Fort Ord, California, and then deployed to the South Pacific on December 12, 1944. Francis was assigned to Company A, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, one of the units charged with fighting to liberate the Philippine Islands from Japanese occupation.
Sacrifice on Lubang Island
Just ten weeks after arriving overseas, Private Francis Long was killed in action on March 2, 1945, during operations on Lubang Island, part of the Occidental Mindoro Province in the Philippines. At the time of his death, he had been in the Army for less than nine months.
His parents received the heartbreaking news via the standard telegram from the Adjutant General’s office, which provided only the date of death with no further details. The entire Sabetha community was deeply moved by the loss of yet another local son to the war. At just 20 years old, Francis had given his life in service to his country.
Memorial and Burial
A memorial service was held on April 22, 1945, at the United Brethren Church in Sabetha, conducted by Rev. C.W. Lucas of Abilene. Music was provided by Mrs. Vernon Wallace, with songs performed by Rev. and Mrs. Wallace Carpenter, including “Resting in His Love” and “Jesus is Always Near.” The Kansas State Guard, local American Legion members, and neighbors gathered to honor his memory.
Francis’ remains were initially buried on Lubang Island, but were later returned to the United States in September 1948. A graveside service was held on October 17, 1948, at Sabetha Cemetery, with Rev. Earl I. Stites officiating. The Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion performed full military rites. He was buried beside his parents, with Mrs. Mary A. Wagner, his grandmother, and many friends in mourning attendance.
Legacy and Recognition
Francis Long’s story did not fade with time. In 1946, his father Ray attended a Gold Star Parents meeting in Kansas City, organized by the American War Dads, to remember sons like Francis who had died in service.
In January 2020, Francis’s legacy was revived when the non-profit organization Purple Hearts Reunited located his Purple Heart medal and certificate at an estate sale in Lincoln, Nebraska. With no living descendants, the organization chose to return the medal to his hometown.
On January 27, 2020, Major Zachariah Fike, founder of Purple Hearts Reunited, presented the framed medal to the Sabetha VFW Post 7285 and the American Legion Post 126, honoring Francis’s service in front of veterans and community members. The medal and certificate were placed on his gravestone, ensuring that his sacrifice would never be forgotten.
Conclusion
Private Francis Richard Long lived a short but honorable life rooted in faith, family, and service. A Kansas farm boy who gave his life for his country thousands of miles from home, his story continues to resonate as a testament to the quiet heroism of the Greatest Generation. Though he never returned from war, his legacy endures—etched in stone at Sabetha Cemetery, remembered by veterans, and honored by a community that has never forgotten his name.
SOURCES
The Sabetha Herald
28 March 1945
Page 1
Men In The Service
Pvt. Francis Long Killed in Pacific
As The Herald goes to press word reaches this office that Pvt. Francis Long, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Long of the Price neighborhood, has been killed in action in the Southwest Pacific area. The Longs received only the usual telegram from the Adjutant General which stated only that he was killed March 2, 1945, but gave no details.
Pvt. Francis Long had been in service only since last June. He took his army training in Texas. He was 20 years old. Every heart in the community is touched by the loss of another Sabetha fighting man.
The Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas)
18 April 1945
page 1
Men in the Service
Francis Richard Long
Memorial services for Pvt Francis Richard Long, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Long of the Price neighborhood, will be held a the United Brethren Church in Sabetha Sunday. The services for Long, who was killed in action in the Pacific, will be conducted by Rev. C. W. Lucas of Abilene.
Francis Richard Long was born December 9, 1924, in Trenton, Mo. He moved to a farm near Berwick with his parents when he was three months old. He attended High School before moving with the family to Eureka where he spent 10 years of his childhood.
He attended a year of high school at Bern and then with his parents moved to a farm south of Sabetha where he helped his father farm until he was inducted into the army June 12, 1944.
He received five month’s training at Camp Hood, Tex., then returned home in October on furlough. He was sent overseas December 12, 1944, and was killed in action on Lubang March 2, 1945.
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The Courier Tribune (Seneca, Kansas)
1 Aug 1946
page 5
Attends Gold Star Meeting
Ray Long of the Price neighborhood attended a meeting of Gold Star parents held in Kansas City Sunday by the American War Dads. Pvt. Franics Long, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Long was killed in the southwest Pacific, March 2, 1945, after only nine months in the army.
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The Sabetha Herald (Sabetha Kansas)
27 October 1948
page 16
Deaths
Pvt. Francis Richard Long
Pvt Francis Richard Long was born at Trenton, Mo., Dec. 5, 1924, and moved to Sabetha with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Long, March 1925. He grew up around Sabetha and attended the neighborhood schools and Bern High School.
He assisted his father on the farm until he was called into service June 12, 1944. He was sent to Camp Hood, Texas where he received his training. He remained there until Oct 1944 when his group was sent to Ford Ord, Calif. From there he was sent to the South Pacific Dec 12, 1944, where he was assigned to Co. A 21 Regiment, 24th division.
He was killed in action March 2, 1945 on Lubang Island.
He leaves to mourn his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Long, hi grandmother, Mrs. Mary A. Wagner, other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services were conducted at the Popkess funeral home Oct. 17, 1948 by Rev. Earl I Stites. Burial was n the Sabetha cemetery. The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion had charge of the graveside service.
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Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas)
1 Dec 2010
page 23
Private Francis Long died in
Southwest Pacific during World War II
Price man was in Army for less than nine
moths before he was killed in action
Private Francis Richard Long, the son of Ray and Lela Long of the Price neighborhood, was killed in action on Lubang Island of the Philippine Islands in the Southwest Pacific on March 2, 1945.
Francis, who was 20 years old at the time of his death, was inducted into the U.S. Army on June 12, 1944. He had received training for five months at Fort Hood, Texas. Following training, he returned home on furlough in October and was sent overseas on Dec. 12, 1944.
His parents initially received “only the usual telegram” from the Adjutant General of the United States, stating that he was killed March 2 but giving no details.
A memorial service, with a closed casket, was held at the United Brethren Church in Sabetha, with the service conducted by Rev C W Lucas of Abilene Mrs Vernon Wallace had charge of the music, and the Rev and Mrs Wallace Carpenter sang “Resting in His Love” and “Jesus is Always Near” The Sabetha Company of the Kansas State Guard and representatives of the American Legion and Auxiliary were present.
Francis’ grave lies besides his parents’ graves in the Sabetha cemetery.
Francis was born Dec. 9, 1924, in Trenton, Mo When he was three months old, he moved with his family to a farm near Berwick. He attended Hilt School before moving with the family to Eureka, where he spent 10 years of his childhood.
Francis attended a year of high school at Bern and then, with his parents, moved to a farm south of Sabetha, where he helped his father farm until Francis’ induction into the U S Army
Millie Johnson of Sabetha, a cousin of Francis Long contributed to this article
Other sources March and April 1945 news items in the Sabetha Herald.
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The Sabetha Herald
May 25, 2011
Page 30
By Patty Locher
Private Francis Long died in Southwest Pacific during World War II
Price man was in Army for less than nine months before he was killed in action
By Patty Locher
Staff Writer
Private Francis Richard Long, the son of Ray and Lela Long of the Price neighborhood, was killed in action on Lubang Island of the Philippine Islands in the Southwest Pacific on March 2, 1945.
Francis, who was 20 years old at the time of his death, was inducted into the U.S. Army on June 12, 1944. He had received training for five months at Fort Hood, Texas. Following training, he returned home on furlough in October and was sent overseas on Dec. 12, 1944.
His parents initially received “only the usual telegram” from the Adjutant General of the United States, stating that he was killed March 2 but giving no details.
A memorial service, with a closed casket, was held at the United Brethren Church in Sabetha, with the service conducted by the Rev. C.W. Lucas of Abilene. Mrs. Vernon Wallace had charge of the music, and the Rev. and Mrs. Wallace Carpenter sang “Resting in His Love” and “Jesus is Always Near.” The Sabetha Company of the Kansas State Guard and representatives of the Price neighborhood and the American Legion and Auxiliary were present.
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The Sabetha Herald
20 Jan 2020
By Patty Locher
PURPLE HEARTS REUNITED
Purple Heart is presented locally to Sabetha VFW, American Legion
HERALD REPORT
Members of the Sabetha Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post No. 7285 were on hand on Monday, Jan. 27, to receive the Purple Heart of Private (PVT) Francis R. Long, who was killed in action in World War II.
This presentation was one of four in Kansas and Missouri over the course of three days by the Purple Hearts Reunited nonprofit foundation. From Jan. 27 through Jan. 29, the Purple Heart Reunited foundation presented four purple heart medals from World War II and two Purple Heart medals from the Korean War era, as well as a set of World War II dog tags, uniform and burial flag and backpack.
PVT Francis Richard Long was born on Dec. 9, 1924, in Trenton, Mo., the only child of Francis Raymond “Ray” and Lela Wagner Long. Soon after his birth, Francis and his family moved to Sabetha, where he resided until drafted into the military. His father, Ray, was also a veteran, who served in World War I and was a member of the American Legion Post No. 126 in Sabetha until his death at age 95.
Francis enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 12, 1944. He was trained at Camp Hood, Texas, and Fort Ord, Calif., before being sent to the South Pacific on Dec. 12, 1944. Francis was a private, assigned to Company A, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on March 2, 1945, on Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro Province, Mimaropa, Philippines. On Oct. 17, 1948 — more than three years after his death — Francis’ graveside service took place back in the U.S. at the Sabetha Cemetery. His parents are buried next to him.
The Purple Heart Certificate was purchased at an estate sale in Lincoln, Neb., and sent to Purple Hearts Reunited for safekeeping. No living immediate family exists. To honor PVT Long’s sacrifice, his Purple Heart medal and certificate was presented to members of the Sabetha VFW.
PURPLE HEARTS REUNITED
An estimated 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded in our nation’s history. In addition to being awarded to those who fight overseas, the Purple Heart is also given to military personnel who display bravery and valor as prisoners of war and while fighting certain types of domestic terrorists.
Purple Hearts Reunited is a non-profit foundation that returns lost, stolen or misplaced medals of valor to veterans or their families in order to honor their sacrifice to the nation. When no living descendant is found, Purple Hearts Reunited finds a “Home of Honor” to display the medal for years to come. The organization has returned more than 800 lost medals, traveled over 150,000 miles, visited over 42 States and has directly affected the lives of more than one million people. For more information, visit www.purpleheartsreunited.org.
[Photo caption, left center]
A group of veterans and auxiliary members gather on Monday, January 27, for the presentation of Purple Heart medal and certificate for Private Francis Long.
Submitted | Zachariah Fike
[Photo caption, lower right]
On the evening of Monday, January 27, at Sabetha Memorial Post 7285 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Major Zachariah Fike of Vermont — founder of Purple Hearts Reunited — presented a framed Purple Heart and documentation for Private Francis Long to World War II veteran and VFW Post 7285 member Ed Garber. Garber is also a member of the John L. Palmer Post 126 of the American Legion, of which Francis Long’s father Raymond was a member until his death.
Submitted | Patty Locher
[Photo caption, right center]
Private Francis Long of the Price/Sabetha area, son of Raymond and Lela Long, was killed in action on March 2, 1945, on Lubang Island, Philippines, during World War II. His remains were initially interred on Lubang Island and were returned to the United States in September 1948. His remains were then interred in the Sabetha Cemetery. Upon their deaths, his parents were buried next to his grave. Here, Long’s Purple Heart medal and certificate are placed on his gravestone at Sabetha Cemetery.
Submitted | Zachariah Fike