306106 Warrant Officer Class Two
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I lost track of Frank for a few years but renewed the association when posted to Wellington as the WORNZA, a post Frank also held for a few years, and as I became more involved in Vietnam Veterans affairs locally I intensified the association, particularly when involved in setting up "Parade 98" and subsequently. Frank has been involved in the National Memorial service at the Carillon on ANZAC Day for the past two years, laying the wreath on behalf of Vietnam Veterans nation-wide. Frank will be sorely missed by all Vietnam Veterans and Gunners, as a quiet person who never had a harsh word to say against anybody, a thinker who listened and when he offered advice, was invariably correct. Captain Lindsay Skinner, January 2001 The following comments are from Frank's Eulogy, given by Major Denis Dwane, CO, 5 Base Logistic Group, Trentham Camp: Frank, having spent three years working for the Post Office as a linesman, opted for more of the same. On 9 Oct 1959, he became Y 306106 Gunner Frank Monday Lupo when he enlisted into the Army as a Driver RNZA. The one and only comment made by the recruiter was - 'a good looking youth, well dressed and spoken'. From this statement it can only assume that the Recruiting Officer was a woman. I first met Frank in 1960 at Papakura Camp. He was a 19 year old Gun Tractor Driver, for our gun crew in Bravo Troop, 161 Bty. He was what you would call a reliable - safety first driver who never tried to impress others with his skills. By this I mean, he was one of the few drivers that you could go to sleep in the back of the truck, without having to sit near the tail board, in fear that you might leave the road at any moment. In 1962 Frank had changed his trade to Artillery Signaller (a trade that he was to stay with for most of his Army Career) and was posted on his first promotion to Waiouru as an Instructor in the National Service Training Unit. In 1964 he was selected for a contingent of Artillery and Armoured personnel to carry out Ceremonial Guard Duties in London. In 1965 Frank went with the first elements of 161 Bty to South Vietnam as a Driver Operator. He was a signaller for a Forward Observer Group and saw his fair share of action of an up close and personal nature. Like all soldiers, he had the adventure most enlisted for but after the event, he never regretted the experience but doubted that it was to his liking. Frank returned to 16 Fd Regt in Papakura in Feb 66 where he was involved with training artillery reinforcements for Vietnam. In Feb 69 he was promoted to Sgt and went on his second tour with 161 Bty in Vietnam. He returned to the Regt in Papakura in Nov the same year. After a Posting to RF Depot Waiouru in 1971-74, Frank returned to Papakura and no doubt feeling his age decided that a trade change to Storeman was in order. In 1979 in this new line of work, he became the Barrackmaster of Burnham Camp and promoted to Warrant Officer. In 1982 he was positioned in Wellington where he held a variety of posts including Accounting Officer Fort Dorset and Artillery Directorate Warrant Officer. Frank retired from the Army in Dec1986 having completed 27 years service. The following cameo of Frank's life in barracks in 1960/61 really holds true today. Frank always maintained an immaculate standard of dress and although only 19 at the time, was regarded as an old soldier. This last comment probably relates to his physical presence - he was a prop in the unit rugby team and he had a quiet maturity about him. Now Frank was a very frugal man, he didn't smoke or drink and was rather shy of girls. Such character traits were to our advantage, as the Army only paid a young soldier enough for taxis, cigarettes and the six o'clock swill, to cover first weekend after pay-day. It was not uncommon on the off pay weekend for a group representative (drawn by lots) to approach him. The conversation would go along the lines of 'Frank you wouldn't have a lazy quid lying around - would you?-- So that we can go to the pub!' Now that was the easy bit, as the first response was normally 'No' followed by interrogation as to why the money was needed. Having teased you at length he was reluctantly obliging, as long as pay back was the next pay sometimes with interest. Frank was not aloof from barrack life activities. He enjoyed playing cards (for a penny a match) and heading off to town with the boys, particularly if movies or steak, eggs, oysters and chips were part of the travel itinerary. He was a close friend to us all. Today we farewell a quiet man of gentle character who tried to maintain a cheerful approach to life with its many twists and turns. He was a real gentleman who always went out of his way to help people. Diligence and loyalty to the RNZA were features of his Army career and were attributes that he carried over into his later years. Haere Ra Frank. Major Denis Dwane, January 2001
161 Bty in Vietnam
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My association with Frank goes back to when I was posted from 163 Bty to 161 Bty just prior to the amalgamation parade in 1964. Frank and I were both part of the front row for the 161 Bty rugby team and later underwent training together prior to proceeding on active service to South Vietnam. During 1966 we were both deployed in Forward Observers parties, Frank as a Driver Operator and I as a FO's Ac (Bty Svyr). We returned to 161 Bty Depot as part of the training team for the next few years and both returned to South Vietnam again in 1969, Frank as the Signals Sergeant and I as the BC's Survey Sergeant. On RTNZ I was posted to 1 Loc Troop for a short duration of about 6 months before being posted to the School of Artillery. About this time Frank was posted to ATG and took up residence about eight houses down the road from the house we were in and our association continued.