Senator Skelos Inducts Sergeant Frank S. Naro Into Veterans' Hall of Fame

Aerial Technical Sergeant Frank S. Naro of Rockville Centre has an exemplary military record and has demonstrated a true and unwavering commitment to his country.

Sergeant Naro is a decorated Air Force Veteran whose story is an inspiring tale of bravery and devotion to our great country. During World War II, Sergeant Naro, a gunner in the ball turret of a B-17 Bomber, was shot down by German fighters. Upon being ejected from his plane, Sergeant Naro was struck by an ammunition box sustaining injuries to his head and due to a late opening parachute was miraculously able to escape. He was the only non captured survivor of this enemy attack on the B-17 in the 96th Bomb Squadron 2nd Bomb group.

Once on the ground, Sergeant Naro could hear enemy combatants converging on his location and fled to a nearby farm where he was taken in by the Greek Underground and hidden from the German soldiers. Sergeant Naro’s family back home in the Bronx received word through a telegram that he was Missing In Action, and ultimately believed that he had been killed. After two months, he was able to obtain a fake passport, and along with fifteen others boarded a Greek fishing vessel to flee to safety in Egypt. Sergeant Naro and the others were hidden in the recess of the vessel, buried under layers of fish and successfully maintained cover even fooling the German Soldiers who had boarded to inspect the cargo.

Upon his arrival to Cairo, Sergeant Naro was given a new lease on life. He was able to coordinate his travel back home to the United States and was later united with his family in an emotional homecoming as they had believed that he had been killed in the line of duty.

Sergeant Naro has been awarded with numerous citations and awards having received the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Honorable Service Lapel for World War II and the Marksman Badge with Pistol Bar.

He resides in Rockville Centre with his wife of 63 years, Lena and has one daughter Joan and granddaughter Genie who reside in South Hempstead.