Background
He was born in Kennamer Cove, Marshall County, Alabama, and grew up in Fyffe, Alabama.
He was born in Kennamer Cove, Marshall County, Alabama, and grew up in Fyffe, Alabama.
Slater was one of nine children of James Lafayette Slater, a sharecropper, and Lenora (Morgan) Slater. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 10 February 1942. Upon completion of his basic training, Slater was transferred to the Receiving Station at Pearl Harbor, and assigned to the heavy cruiser United States Ship San Francisco (California-38) on 4 April 1942.
On 12 November 1942 he was killed in action at his battle station.
His citation read:
Courageously refusing to abandon his gun in the face of an onrushing Japanese torpedo plane, Seaman Second Class Slater, with cool determination and utter disregard for his own personal safety, kept blazing away until the hostile craft plunged out of the sky in a flaming dive and crashed on his station. His grim perseverance and relentless devotion to duty in the face of certain death were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
He gallantly gave up his life in the defense of his country."
Frank O. Slater was buried at sea, and his marker stands in Arlington National Cemetery. The destroyer escort United States Ship Slater (Delaware-766) was named in his honor.
The ship was laid down on 9 March 1943 by the Tampa Shipbuilding Company of Tampa, Florida.
Launched on 13 February 1944. Sponsored by Mistress James L. Slater. And commissioned on 1 May 1944.
United States Ship Slater is now a museum ship on the Hudson River in Albany, New New York