It is with great pride that we claim this gentleman and decorated WWII soldier who died in 1981, having received two purple hearts along with five bronze stars and other honors for his service. We only this past week discovered that he was a part of our family but probably never knew how to reach us.

He was the son of Charles Irwin and Flossie Whitby. He had a little brother named Willie. You may see them in Flossie's father's (Peiros Whitby) home in 1930 in Cross County, Arkansas - spelling used was Erwin to describe Mr. Whitby's grand-sons.

Franklin and Willie were the great-grandsons of Randolph Carroll Irwin, a CSA soldier originally from Talledega County, Alabama who served with distinction and suffered a stint in the Rock Island, Illinois yankee prison camp, having received a pardon at Vicksburg, Mississippi from Gen. Grant, but who immediately re-enlisted to fight for the cause and was captured at Big Shanty, Georgia.

Franklin's and Willie's father Charles and grandfather William Carroll Irwin died in the phenomenon of the Great Flood of 1927 in Cross County, Arkansas. Thus far, we have not been able to determine if it was known by the authorities who they were at the time they were buried and/or whether they simply drowned and their bodies were never recovered. William Carroll Irwin's sister, Mary Ella Irwin Pruitt, never heard from her brother or any of his family again after 1927. Franklin and his little brother Willie probably never knew how to contact Mary Ella, and thus never knew how she grieved to have lost contact with her brother.

Franklin L. Irwin died in 1981 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. Mary Ella Irwin Pruitt, my grandmother's mother and Franklin's grandfather's sister, died in 1960 at almost 100 years old in Birmingham, Alabama. To any descendants of Franklin or his little brother Willie, please contact us.

Pat Gresham
David Muir, my brother
caribel@mindspring.com

My name is David, I received your email. I am trying to set up a private email account. I would very much like to get information on Franklin Irwin. I have been to the cemetery where Frankin's brother Willie is buried. I met Franklin shortly before he died in 1981. I met with his widow after he passed away and she told me about all the war medals. As far as I know my grandfather had 3 daughters and I am the only grandson to my knowledge. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Hi, I am also a David. You must be the son of Frankie Jo Irwin and Richard W. Brazile? Let me know when you get an address and I will send you all the info I have.

David.

I am the son of Frankie Jo Irwin and Richard Brazile. I did not meet my grandafather until I was 18 years old. His widow told me about the war medals and his service history after his death. I would love to have any information that you have on that side of my family.

email address- dbrazpaw@gmail.com