Francis T. “Frank” Baldy

“I was too young to remember my great-uncle personally; he passed away about 20 years ago.”

– Drew Baldy, student

Francis T. “Frank” Baldy, remembered by his great-nephew, Drew Baldy

Frank “The Barber” Baldy survived Pearl Harbor and later befriended famed Naval ace, Butch O’Hare.

Francis T. “Frank” Baldy was assigned to the battleship USS Nevada. On Dec. 7, 1941, his ship sustained severe damage during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was working in the belly of the ship as a radio operator when the attack took place. The Japanese bombs tore a hole in the battleship’s hull, and it began to sink as water rushed into the wreckage.

Baldy found himself submerged in darkness with no apparent way out as the water crept up to his knees, then his chest. He would later tell his family that as he reached out to try to find his way, he heard a voice in the darkness and a hand grabbed his and led him to a part of the ship where he was able to see light through the crack in the hull. He swam toward it and emerged safely, only to find himself in a sea of burning oil and flames. But he survived that horrible night.

Later, he was assigned to the Destroyer USS Endicott, which performed convoy duty in the North Atlantic. The Endicott and its crew helped save Commander Douglas Fairbanks Jr.’s British ship by sinking two German Corvettes that were attacking his vessel.

Following that episode, Fairbanks, who needed a haircut, pulled alongside the Endicott. Baldy, who cut the hair of many of the men with whom he served, cut Fairbanks’ hair at his request. He also cut Naval ace Butch O’Hare’s hair and became good friends with him.