CRAMBLET, Frank

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ July 7, 2008 Frank Cramblet died June 25, 2008, in Sun City. "Poor is the nation that has no heroes; but beggar'd is the nation that has and forgets." Captain Frank Cramblet entered his tremendous worldly journey as the firstborn child of Ernie and Eileen Cramblet in Gooding, Idaho, May 23, 1928. As a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy (1950), Cramblet had a long and storied naval career. A quote from his yearbook exemplified his zest for life and the Navy: "His extracurricular activities were legion: soccer, basketball, reading, softball and aviation. Frank's sense of humor, his personality and some fiery red hair gave him his host of friends. His love of flying should give him a busy career in naval aviation." Frank served honorably in the Vietnam and Korean wars flying missions in the A-4 Skyhawk. In 1967, he was commanding officer of Attack Squardron 65, affectionately known as the "World Famous Flying Tigers." Cramblet was a survivor of the 1967 USS Forrestal fire and Zuni rocket and bomb explosions that killed 134 men. In the 1970s, he served proudly as commanding officer of Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico, as well as various administrative positions at the Pentagon. For over the last two decades, Frank lived in Arizona, first in the Valley as a Farmer's Insurance agent, then to his retirement home in Show Low. He and his loving wife, Phyllis, recently relocated to Anthem. Cramblet is also survived by his sister, Molly McCormick (Vern) of Tekoe, Wash.; daughter Shelley Dupuy (Michael); son Jay of Las Vegas, Nev.; daughter Julie Rauch (David). Mary Cramblet, mother of his three children resides, in Scottsdale. He is also survived by three stepchildren, Julie Kriegh (Jack), Michael Benjamin and Arnie Benjamin, and many grandchildren. May Frank rest in peace. "A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guaranty of peace." Messinger Pinnacle Peak Mortuary handled arrangements.