Sometimes when someone hears a story so many times, it almost becomes their own.
Such is the case with Frank and Renee Soboleski.
The Journal visited the Soboleski home last week to talk to Frank – who turns 90 this week – about the past nine decades of his life which include combat time in World War II, growing up in International Falls and his claim to fame through an HBO miniseries.
Unfortunately, the lifelong Borderland resident was experiencing a migraine and missed the interview. But, his story wasn’t lost.
After hearing about the events of her husband’s life so many times, Renee was able to relay the ups and downs of Frank’s life and the struggles he still deals with today.
“I would have had to tell you the information anyway,” she said. “Frank is very hard of hearing...I’ve been through the whole thing with him.”
The extreme headaches and partial deafness are all repercussions of time Frank spent as a paratrooper with Easy Company, which was the subject of an award-winning HBO miniseries “The Band of Brothers.”
It was the series, Renee said, that has helped him cope with “the demons” that still creep up on him following the World War II.
“He never talked about any of that before,” Renee said, referring to events he lived through that inspired the series. “When he got back together with his buddies he fought with, they talked about things...It was very therapeutic for all of them.”
Learning Frank’s history
She may have his story down to a tee now, but Renee admits she didn’t always know the history behind the man she loves.
“He never really talked about it,” she said of Frank’s past. “We’d been married 30 years and I never knew any of it.”
Frank was one of 14 children who grew up on a farm near International Falls. He was an avid horse lover who hitched a ride on a freight train to California at age 16.
“He lived in a box,” Renee said.
After getting a job with MGM Studios, executives asked Frank how to get a hold of him, but because he was homeless, there was no way of reaching him.
“He jokes John Wayne took his job because he didn’t have a phone,” Renee said.
Frank then shifted his attention to joining the military. His dream was to become a pilot, but because he was colorblind, he had to alter his goals.
“If he couldn’t fly planes, he decided to jump out of them,” Renee said with a laugh.
The 17-year-old knew he wanted to become a paratrooper and surround himself with an elite group of men. But, because of his age, he was forced to wait until he turned 18 in 1943 to enlist.
From there, his resume is quite impressive.
He joined Easy Company; jumped in to Normandy and Holland during Market Garden, an unsuccessful allied military operation; fought in the Netherlands and Germany, considered the largest airborne operation up to that time.
Later, as the war neared its end, Renee said Frank found himself fighting for his life in the Battle of the Bulge near Bastogne, Belgium. By his side was his “foxhole buddy” Herb Suerth, who Frank still considers a friend today.
“He and Herbie are still really close,” Renee said.
Always prepared
Renee said she believes it was Frank’s upbringing that prepared him for the war.
“He was always in the woods as a young boy,” she said. “He was like 6 years old bringing home a deer for his family to eat.”
During the Battle of the Bulge, the soldier knew how to make himself invisible in the woods and applied his knowledge to outsmart the Nazi army.
“He was a tough customer and he still is a tough customer,” Renee said.
More untold stories
In addition to the miniseries, Frank’s story was also documented in “We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories from the Band of Brothers,” a military non-fiction book published in 2009.
Frank asked his wife, a longtime school teacher, to write the story for him, but she said she needed his help.
“I told him to write down anything he can think of – little anecdotes – and write it on whatever paper was near him,” she said. “He comes to me in about three months with this paper bag full of little tiny pieces of paper.”
The couple then spent an entire winter piecing together Frank’s life on a timeline to complete the story.
“I was happy to be able to do that for him,” she said.
And now, the noticeably proud wife will celebrate his life and incredible history with those who know and love Frank Thursday.
From 4-9 p.m., Renee said everyone is invited to an open-house birthday party Thursday at Moose Lodge No. 1259.
“The fact that he’s reached 90 years old with all that behind him is so wonderful. I just want to celebrate with him and all his friends and relatives,” Renee said.
The International Falls City Council Monday approved designating June 18 “Frank Day” and Mayor Bob Anderson is expected to give an official proclamation.
“I hope he enjoys it,” Renee said of Frank’s party and day. “It’ll be fun.”
