Rattler/Firebird Association


Francis George Graziosi

Name Francis George Graziosi
Rank/Grade SFC - E7 - Army - Regular
Age 28
Marital Status Single
Race Caucasian
Gender Male
Date of Birth Jan 10, 1951
From Rochester, New York
Length of Service {Service}
Tour Began Jan 10, 1970
Casualty Date * Feb 20, 1979
Location QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile/Non-Hostile   Non-Hostile, died missing
Classification HELICOPTER - CREW AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body Recovered Yes (identified 2006)
Religion Roman Catholic

Vietnam Memorial

 

 Panel 14W - - Line 22
Francis George Graziosi

Visitor Comments

Posted by:Mrs. Julia Ross
Date:Friday, April 11, 2003 7:18 PM UTC
Relationship:none
From:Newport News, VA
Comments:I still keep the POW/MIA bracelet on my dresser. I wore it for AGES and still cherish it as my most expensive piece of jewelry. Hugs for all who remember him!

--Mrs. Julia Ross, Newport News, VA
Posted by:art decaro
Date:Wednesday, December 20, 2006 3:23 PM UTC
Relationship:none
From:geneva ny
Comments:i also have a bracelet for francis graziosi.it is 12-20-06,and our local rochetser ny newspaper anounced that his remains were found and are being sent to his family in rochetser. he was an only child and his parents are dead. i saw your site while i wass googleing his name.happy holidays
Posted by:mario martini
Date:Tuesday, March 13, 2007 10:07 PM UTC
Relationship:high school friend
From:rochester new york
Comments:is has been 39 years, it is hard to remember every thing but i do remember francis he enlisted in the army in 1968 the same time that my cousin john stirpe was layed to rest, he was 19 also kia vietnam, we hoped and prayed that he would be found, my friend rocco cassano was also a chopper piolt with same unit in nam 4 tours in nam he enlisted in the navy years latter died in a flame out on his plane in portarico in 79 we have lost so many in vietnam from rochester, still some mias, hope we fing them all. francis will be layed to rest this spring in the grave that his perants got for him years ago....my he rest in peace, until we all meet again....
Posted by:Julia Ross
Date:Wednesday, May 16, 2007 8:40 AM UTC
Relationship:none ... bracelet!
From:Newport News
Comments:I am fairly dancing. In two days I go to Rochester NY to meet Francis' family. His remains will be interred in the family plot this weekend.
Posted by:Deborah Ling
Date:Wednesday, May 16, 2007 5:13 PM UTC
Relationship:none
From:Columbus, OH
Comments:I just "happened" to be in the Rochester airport yesterday when the remains of Francis were returned to US soil. I was moved to tears. I am roughly the same age as Francis would be, and I lost a very dear friend to the Vietnam war. I would like to write a story in tribute to Francis, just for my own creative writing group. If you can share any details about what he liked, what he wanted to be when he returned from the water, whether his parents were immigrants and how long they lived and mourned Francis, I would be most grateful and will not disrespect his name nor his memory.
Posted by:Tim Patton
Date:Tuesday, July 10, 2007 6:43 PM UTC
Relationship:None
From:Charlotte, NC
Comments:I still wear the POW/MIA copper bracelet that bares his name. SPEC.5 FRANCIS GRAZIOSI, 1/10/70. I was there in 1966/67.
Posted by:Alice Slone
Date:Sunday, September 30, 2007 6:22 PM UTC
Relationship:None
From:Winchester, Ky
Comments:I have a silver metal Graziosi POW/MIA
bracelet. I got it from the Veterans Club
at Eastern Ky University and have kept it
all these years. May he rest in peace and
may God bless his family.
Posted by:James G. Wetrich
Date:Thursday, November 22, 2007 2:47 PM UTC
Relationship:None
From:Southlake, TX
Comments:I was in high school when the war ended but have had one of Francis' bracelets for a long time--it is dated 1-10-70. I am the son of a WWII veteran and my mom was born and raised in Rochester, NY. May Francis rest in peace. I am grateful for his service to our country.
Posted by:J Dennis Canfield
Date:Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:08 PM UTC
Relationship:None, wore his braclet for years
From:Beaufort,Sc
Comments:I purchased Francis' bracelet in between 1971 and 1972. I was attending High School in Springfield Virgina. My father spent two tours in Viet Nam. He was a Huey gunship pilot 66-67. I wore the bracelet until it broke in two pieces. I kept the two parts for years. I don't know what happened to them but I have never forgotten his name.

They are not forgotten.
Posted by:Tito Gonzalez
Date:Saturday, November 14, 2009 11:14 AM UTC
Relationship:
From:
Comments:My mom kept an MIA bracelet for Francis Graziosi for years. She was always
curious if he made it back. While I was in DC I found his name on the wall.
I made a shadow box for my mom with his bracelet, his photo, the etching
from the wall, and his patches. She asked me to post it on his site to let
his family know that she still thinks about him.


Posted by:Joanne Suttile
Date:Monday, January 11, 2010 1:22 AM UTC
Relationship:
From:Mission Viejo
Comments:Found a bracelet on the beach years ago and finally found out about you. Happy Birthday. Still in our thoughts.
Posted by:Lorie Haller
Date:Monday, June 14, 2010 5:59 PM UTC
Relationship:Cousin
From:Rochester, NY
Comments:This is my second cousin, and remember the day we got the news that his remains were found. We will miss you. Rest in peace cuz. Love you!
Posted by:Sherry Tucker
Date:Wednesday, June 16, 2010 3:15 AM UTC
Relationship:
From:Rochester NY
Comments:I got Francis bracelet from his father. I wore it for years...When they brought Francis remains home and had his funeral, I was out of town. My neighbor took his bracelet to the funeral home and gave it to his family for me. I so much wanted to be there as I waited a long time as his family did for him to come home. Rest in peace Francis
Posted by:justin johnson
Date:Friday, August 27, 2010 7:37 AM UTC
Relationship:
From:yuba city california
Comments:to all of those that were the bracelate of francis i hope to say that im a 28 year old devlopementaly disabled male i also have his bracelate it belonged to my mom she just gave it to me to were for a wile i hope to keep it for a long time and i hope too find out who his family members are to write to them and tell them how sad it really must be to have someone to be mia and find out they were killed in war. i feel very sad for the family and for him not to ever see his family again
Posted by:Larry Ashworth
Date:Saturday, March 12, 2011 4:31 AM UTC
Relationship:None
From:Fountain Hills
Comments:I got the bracelet of Spec.5 Francis Graziosi about 1973 in Indiana, and have kept it all these years. I was very proud to wear his bracelet. Although it is sad to know of his death, it is gratifying to know he was found and returned.
Posted by:Jodie McMahon
Date:Monday, May 30, 2011 2:57 AM UTC
Relationship:None
From:Lenexa
Comments:I also have the bracelet of Spec. 5 Francis Graziosi that I got in approx. 1972 or 1973 when I was 16 or 17 yrs old. I spent years wondering about him, and searched a number of years ago to find any updates. Watching a local Memorial Day tribute to all soldiers, I thought of him again, picked up my laptop, Googled his namme and found this site. Sad but nice to know that his remains were returned.
Posted by:Anne Giovaniello Zafian
Date:Monday, May 30, 2011 4:56 PM UTC
Relationship:I wore his MIA bracelet
From:New York, NY
Comments:I also wore Francis's bracelet, and it's so gratifying to see that others did, as well. I wore it for many years in the 70s and still own it. Today I discovered in a google search that his remains were found and identified, and I am glad for whatever peace that may have brought his family.
Posted by:Kevin Mannara
Date:Thursday, June 16, 2011 3:02 AM UTC
Relationship:
From:
Comments:You can access a memorial with pictures of his final resting place at www.findagrave.com
Posted by:Joseph Costa
Date:Tuesday, November 15, 2011 6:21 PM UTC
Relationship:none
From:Darien Ct.
Comments:I was watching the Viet Nam war story on the History channel this weekend and turned to my wife and said, "I have a bracelet of Spec.5 Francis Graziosi 1/10/70 and said I wore it for about 5 years before I put it away" Not ever knowing what happened to him, I googled his name and found him. I am so happy that his family has closure, and I would like to add...Rest in Peace Francis as there were many who prayed for you!
Posted by:Eddie Reece
Date:Tuesday, March 20, 2012 6:28 PM UTC
Relationship:Wore His Bracelet
From:Atlanta, GA
Comments:I just came across Francis's bracelet by accident today. I wore it for maybe close to 10 years. I started wearing it while in high school. I recall how emotionally difficult it was to take it off. At the time I had no idea what had happened to him and I seem to recall that the idea was to wear the bracelet until there was news about the person whose name was on it.

I wondered about Francis all the years I wore the bracelet and have thought of him from time to time afterwards. I stored it in one of the many boxes I've carried with me all my life.

I'll be 57 years old next month and it's very moving to me even now to find this site and learn about the man I wondered so much about. The heartbreak of his loss is still there and I feel as close to him as I used to when I wore the bracelet.

I saw the Viet Nam Memorial a number of years ago for the first time. I sobbed uncontrollably. I am crying again because at the time I was at the Wall, I recalled the bracelet, but couldn't remember Francis's last name. I wish I'd seen his name on the wall then. Thank you to the person who posted the picture of his name. That helps.

To all who wore the bracelets and to all of you who were touched by the lives of everyone who served and especially to those who served, I wish you the very best of what life offers.
I continue to be deeply saddened by all of the lives that were lost.
Posted by:Anne Marie Van Meter
Date:Wednesday, May 16, 2012 10:40 PM UTC
Relationship:I wore his MIA Bracelet
From:Schertz, TX
Comments:I wore his bracelet at the age of 10 in 1971. I am now 51 and have always carried it with me. I wanted him to know that there were people out there who cared about him. Bless you for your service Francis. You will never be forgotten.
Posted by:maryann
Date:Saturday, January 26, 2013 11:02 PM UTC
Relationship:pow bracelet
From:shirley ny
Comments:my message is like all the rest....i too wore his bracelet faithfully for many years and have always wondered what became of him...so glad to have found this site! i have the white and blue star sticker on it which means MIA...bless us all and the memory of francis....you will never be forgotten!
Posted by:Kathi Flohr
Date:Sunday, March 10, 2013 3:48 PM UTC
Relationship:None
From:Fond du Lac
Comments:I just found his Mia bracelet that I bought
years ago. Although it has been so long I was a bit saddened to see his remains had been found. Part of me always hoped I would look him up some day and found he had made it home. I was always proud to wear the bracelet and will always cherish it.
Posted by:Laurie Jackson
Date:Monday, May 27, 2013 4:34 PM UTC
Relationship:
From:Virginia Beach
Comments:I, too, have a POW MIA bracelet honoring him. It always saddened me that he was lost on his 19th birthday and that he was his parent's only son. Remembering Francis on this Memorial Day.
Posted by:Teresa Murphy
Date:Saturday, November 9, 2013 6:45 PM UTC
Relationship:
From:Waldo
Comments:I just found a S/SGT.Francis G. Graziosi USA 1-10-70 SVN bracelet in Belfast Maine. I always thought they only issued 1 per soldier. Happy to hear he was found & layed to rest home.
Teresa
Posted by:Susan Pilgrim
Date:Friday, December 12, 2014 11:19 PM UTC
Relationship:none
From:Lake George
Comments:I bought a bracelet at the post office in 1972. I received a bracelet with the name Spec 5 Francis Graziosi 1-10-70 on it. I lost the bracelet years ago and actually just found it a week ago. I remember going to the wall when they had it here in Colorado and penciled his name which I still have. I am wondering if this belongs to you and if you as a Mom would like it back, or sister, brother. I know he was from Rochester. I was born and raised in Prattsburgh, NY. its about an hour and a half south of Rochester. Please email me if interested.
Posted by:Anne Van Meter
Date:Wednesday, May 25, 2022 4:31 PM UTC
Relationship:
From:San Antonio TX
Comments:I started wearing his bracket I was 10, when my Dad was stationed at Ft. Knox. I wore his braclet for many years and still have it. I am 61. I keep it on my dresser and always wear it all Memorial Day weekend. When I was at the Vietnam memorial a few years ago, I found his name, touched it, and thanked him for his sacrifice to our country. I want him to know he is not forgotten. God Bless You Francis ??????????????????
Posted by:Anne Van Meter
Date:Thursday, May 26, 2022 8:42 PM UTC
Relationship:
From:San Antonio TX
Comments:I started wearing his bracket I was 10, when my Dad was stationed at Ft. Knox. I wore his braclet for many years and still have it. I am 61. I keep it on my dresser and always wear it all Memorial Day weekend. When I was at the Vietnam memorial a few years ago, I found his name, touched it, and thanked him for his sacrifice to our country. I want him to know he is not forgotten. God Bless You Francis ??????????????????

 

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