Frank H. Pilo, Sr., 91, of Mansfield died March 6, 2010 at Mifflin Care Center.

Frank was born on August 1, 1918 in Mansfield to Frank M. and Elizabeth Esto Pilo. He was a graduate of Mansfield Sr. High and served in the US Army during WWII.

Frank had his choice of four basic positions in the tank crew and chose to become a gunner. He shipped out on Christmas Eve, 1944, and landed 17 days later at LeHavre, France. From there he was transported to the ancient city of Aachen in Belgium, the seat of Charlemagne’s empire in the late 700s. His unit was I Company, 33rd Spearhead, First Army, Third Armored Division. Frank said he and his crew went through four or five Sherman tanks, which were easily outgunned by the German Tiger tanks. On January 24, 1944 he was deployed to Germany. Frank said, “I lost four tanks before I was shot in the back. When we crossed the Rhine River, the Germans were waiting for us. They shot our spearhead and we all jumped out to look and that's when I got shot. I'm lucky to even be alive.” Frank was a double Purple Heart Veteran.

Frank was a Tool and Die Maker at Westinghouse for 36 years, retiring in 1981. He was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, D.A.V. and the American Legion, McVey Post #16. He was quite a handy-man and would make something out of nothing and known to be an overly generous man.

Survivors include a son, Frank (Penny) Pilo, Jr. of Shelby; a daughter, Rita (Sam) Powers of Lexington; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Helen Hershey of MacArthur.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Velma Pilo; his second wife Anna Wynn Pilo and a sister, Caroline Miller.

Friends may call at Herlihy-Chambers Funeral Home, 173 Park Ave. West, on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00am Thursday at St. Peter's Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Mansfield Catholic Cemetery with military honors provided by Richland County Joint Veterans Burial Detail.