Frank Brocato (1908-1973) was the fourth of the Brocato brothers, sons of Vincent Joseph and Antoinette Antone Brocato. He did not finish high school; as was the custom in those days, he went to work during the Depression to help the family survive.

Frank usually worked in the auto parts business for various suppliers and was working in Jackson in the late 1930s.

He was drafted during the early days of World War II, shortly after he had married Billie Morton. After basic training he was assigned to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for more advanced infantry training. There he was assigned to the 75th Division and ultimately achieved the rank of staff sergeant.

After the Allies landed in France in June 1944, his unit went to France and was placed in a forward position. His unit was in Belgium at the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944.

During the fierce fighting at that time, he was serving as a supply sergeant. At the Battle of the Bulge he earned a citation - the Bronze Star – for heroism. The lieutenant’s recommendation for the award stated that Frank had repeatedly driven jeep loads of supplies, including dry socks, mortar ammunition and other essentials, to troops on the front lines of the battle, while under constant enemy fire. The dry socks were probably more welcome to the troops than the ammunition! Frost bite and trench foot disabled more troops in that snowy December than did enemy fire.

After the war Frank returned to Jackson and again worked for auto parts suppliers. He and Billie later moved to Clarksdale, where he worked on a part-time basis for his brothers at Brocato’s Curb Market.

Sometime in the 1950s Frank and Billie moved back to Jackson and then divorced. He was living in Jackson at the time of his death.