George Riley “Bob” Francis was born on January 12, 1917, in Lovington, Moultrie County, Illinois. He was the son of Henry J. Francis and Esther Z. Francis. He was married to Margaret V. Zehner Kenter. He worked as a Farm Bureau tester before enlisting in the army on March 20, 1941. He served in the 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division, as a Second Lieutenant during World War II. On November 17, 1944, 2LT Francis served as an anti-tank platoon leader near Dordal Farm, west of Benestroff, France. 2LT Francis and his sergeant moved toward Dordal Farm on a reconnaissance mission to identify targets for an upcoming attack. While advancing, they were ambushed by German forces and took cover in a culvert beneath a railroad track. His sergeant later realized that 2LT Francis had been hit and had succumbed to his wounds. 2Lt Francis is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France.Source of information: www.findagrave.com