Francis Nathan Bangs, Jr. graduated from the St. Paul’s School in New York in 1940, where he belonged to the Rifle Club, the Radio Club, the Dramatic Club, and he participated in debates.  At the time when he graduated, the Nazis were invading the nations of Western Europe, and Francis strongly believed it was America’s responsibility to come to their aid.  He acted on his convictions and joined the Army after graduation.   He attended Officers Candidate School at Fort Know and was commissioned. Francis served with the 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion of the 3rd Armored Division.  He saw service in France and Belgium.  He died in Belgium on 18 December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. His brother Whitney Waldo Bangs also graduated from the same school in 1943 and died as a Prisoner of War in Germany.  The brothers are buried together side-by-side at the Henri Chapelle American Cemetery
Information from the St. Paul’s School War Book, courtesy of Erwin Derhaag