Mahanna Frank T.

Mahanna Frank was born in 1882 and served as the soilder in USA military from 1933-1945. Mahana thought he was going to have a real treat to be able to watch the Reno Air Races. He was fortunate enough to be given a seat near the front of the field, on the first row of the grandstand, with a fantastic view (Castle Garden, 2013). However, the evening turned to a frightening experience as one of the aircraft headed directly toward him. A P51 Mustang piloted by Jimmy Leeward flew down in an arc missing Mahana by about 20 feet. The plane disintegrated as it hit the pavement spreading parts and shrapnel in a wide area. He belonged to an old, wealthy New York family and was a distant cousin of Theodore Mahanna Frank. Possessing a dynamic personality, he became a State Senator in 1910 and within three years became the Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President Wilson (JewishGen, n.d). But in 1921 his career suffered due to polio and was paralyzed from the waist down, but he fought back with great courage and determination, with the support of his wife Eleanor Mahanna Frank. He made makeshift tourniquets for two people using his belt and another person's belt. He used his shirt in holding one man's leg together (WorldConnect Project, 2013).

His previous military service training from U.S. Air Force Self-Aid Buddy Care kicked in automatically as he rushed to assist those nearby. Mahana continued helping as he could for about an hour, finally using cloth banners to cover body parts at the scene. Mahana was presented a Department of the Army Commander's Award for Civilian Service, which was signed by Brig. Gen. Gustave F. Perna, commander Joint Munitions Command, Feb. 23. The certificate was presented to Andrew M. ...