During World War II, the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment activated for service on February 14, 1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia. There were many different battalions and some fought in Europe and some in the Pacific theaters of World War II.

The regiment’s first Pacific theatre operation was at New Guinea in September of 1943. In July of 1944 they fought at Noemfoor in Dutch New Guinea. They were in Mindoro in December of 1944 and successfully helped capture the island and later liberated Corregidor in February of 1945. They received a Presidential Unit Citation for their work on Corregidor. They then fought at Negros island in April of 1945 with very intense combat which lasted until October of 1945, after Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945.

Brodhead soldier Frank Maveus, Jr. served with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Frank Maveus, Jr. was born May 1, 1925 in Brodhead in Green County to Frank and Celia (Olson) Maveus.

From the 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census, the Maveus family lived in Decatur Township in Green County. The household included father Frank, mother Celia M., and children Frank Jr. and Robert. In the 1940 US Census, father Frank worked as a telephone foreman and mother Celia was a homemaker.

Frank Maveus Jr. was a 1942 Brodhead High School graduate. 

On January 24, 1943 Frank Maveus Jr. married Mary Margaret Searles in Green County, Wisconsin.

On May 1, 1943 Maveus registered for the WWII Draft in Green County on his 18th birthday. He was employed at the Goldenrod Creamery in Brodhead.

From the January 23, 1945 Monroe Evening Times there was a notice that “Pvt. Frank Maveus, jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Maveus, Brodhead, has won the right to wear the boots and wings of the army paratroop command. Private Maveus has completed four weeks of jump training during which time he made five jumps, the last a tactical jump at night involving a combat problem on landing.”

From the July 30, 1945 Monroe Evening Times article titled “Pvt. Frank Maveus Killed in Action,” the news from Brodhead was “Pvt. Frank Maveus, jr., 20, with a paratrooper unit, was killed in action July 14 on Negros island in the Philippines, a war department telegram has notified his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Maveus, sr., and his wife, the former Mary Margaret Searles...”

From the February 15, 1949 Janesville Daily Gazette, the news from Brodhead was “The body of Pfc. Frank Maveus Jr., who lost his life July 14, 1945, while with the army on Negros island in the Philippines, will arrive in Brodhead... The V. F. W. will have charge of the services and members of the American Legion post will attend in a body...

Pfc. Maveus entered service Nov. 30, 1943, at Fort Sheridan and trained at Jefferson barracks in Missouri, Elgin field, Fla., and received his paratrooper wings Jan. 12, 1945, at Fort Benning, Ga. He was sent overseas March 5, 1945. His service record includes the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon, the  Good Conduct medal, the Combat Infantryman’s badge and the Purple Heart.

Surviving are his parents; a daughter, Rosanne Maveus; a brother, Robert; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Iver Olson, all of Brodhead, and several uncles and aunts.”

Private Frank Maveus Jr. is listed on the National WWII Memorial and the National Archives Honor Roll List for Jefferson County, New York. It is unclear how this misplacement occurred.

Private Frank Maveus, Jr. was repatriated and reburied in Greenwood Cemetery in Brodhead, Wisconsin. He received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously.

Thank you, Private Frank Maveus, Jr., for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.