Captain Francis (Frank) A. Hantz, USN (Retired) died on Monday, July 22, 2019 at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital, Wilkes-Barre. Born on August 18, 1927 in Duryea, he was the son of the late Frank J. Hantz and Mary C. Hantz.
Frank graduated from Duryea High School in 1944 and completed one year of studies at Bloomsburg State Teacher’s College before enlisting in the US Navy in 1945. After he completed his enlistment, he returned to Bloomsburg and received his B.S. degree in business education in 1949. He subsequently received an M.S in management from the U.S. Navel Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
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After graduation from Bloomsburg, he taught at the Reading Business Institute in Reading, Pennsylvania and in the Baltimore County School System in Maryland.
Frank re-entered the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict and remained on active duty until his retirement in 1973. He served for 28 years. He served as an Intelligence Officer with Attack Squadron 92, Staff, Air Group Nine, and Staff, Commander Task Force Seventy Seven. He also served as an instructor at the Pacific Fleet Air Intelligence School, the Naval Intelligence School in Washington, D.C. and participated in the establishment of the Turkish Intelligence School in Ankara, Turkey.
During his last tour of duty, Captain Hantz served as the Fleet Intelligence Officer on the staff of Commander U.S. Seventh Fleet (May 1971 to August 1973) under VADMs M. Weisner, W. Mack, J. Holloway and G. Steele. Although most of his service in a combat environment was spent in the Western Pacific, Captain Hantz also served in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and several locations in the continental United States.
Captain Hantz’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit (with combat “V”), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (with combat “V”), the Army Commendation Medal, A National Order (S. Vietnam), and the cross of Gallantry (S. Vietnam). His unit awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, two Navy Unit Commendations, one Meritorious Unit Citation, and one Cross of Gallantry (S. Vietnam). He earned other medals for service in World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War.
After his retirement from active naval service, he worked in the Washington, D.C. area as a consultant in the information science field. His clients included Planning Research Corporation, Martin Marietta, Booz, Allen and Hamilton, and other defense contractors.
He was a member of the Nativity Of Our Lord Parish, Duryea, the VFW Post 4909, Dupont, the Army and Navy Club and the Naval Intelligence Professionals in Washington, D.C.
He is survived by his sister, Joan C. Hynoski, of Duryea niece, Dorice Oliveri and husband Stanley, of Hughestown, their sons Jeff and Matt Oliveri and nephew Richard Hynoski and family, of Colorado.
A mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, July 26 at 10:00am at Nativity of Our Lord Parish Church, 127 Stephenson St., Duryea with Fr. John Polednak officiating. Friends may call Thursday evening, July 25th from 5-8pm at Kiesinger Funeral Services, Inc., 255 McAlpine St., Duryea. Family and friends are asked to go directly to the church for the mass. There will be no procession from the funeral home. Interment will be held at Holy Rosary Cemetery. AMVETS Honor Guard of Greater Pittston will provide military honors.