William Franklin Mode

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Bio

William F. Mode was born on October 21, 1932, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and passed away on August 5, 2022, at home in Knoxville. He attended Old Knox High, where he was active in R.O.T.C. After losing his father at age four, William began working as soon as he was able to help support his mother—a responsibility he carried well into adulthood. At seventeen, shortly after the outbreak of the Korean War, he joined the United States Marine Corps, with his mother signing his enlistment papers. William completed boot camp at Parris Island in October 1950 with Platoon 103. He then served with A Company, 2nd Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion at Camp Geiger and Stone Bay, Camp Lejeune. He attended Voice and Field Radio Code Schools in Norfolk and San Diego, and completed Cold Weather training at Pickle Meadows. After landing at Incheon, he served with the Kimpo Provisional Regiment as a Voice and CW (Morse Code) Radio Operator (MOS 2531 and 2533) while stationed at the Korean DMZ, leaving with the rank of Corporal. Though promoted to Sergeant, he was busted back down to Corporal. He served from August 1950 to August 1954, taking great pride in his Marine Corps service and wearing the title well. Not a day passed when he did not display his American flag. After returning from Korea, he worked for South Central Bell as a lineman, moved to Installation, and eventually to the TSPS division, retiring from AT&T in 1991.