Willi Frank's Request for Photos Taken by Ray Frank in Somalia

Ray Frank's Photo Journal of Somalia

I have a huge favor to ask of any members of the 160th, current or former, particularly those who were serving in the unit during and immediately following Somalia, 1993 through early 1994. I’m looking for all the pictures Ray took and the negatives. While Ray was in Somalia he did like a running pictorial journal. Every package I received from him contained a short note or letter and one to three rolls of film. We had two copies made of every roll; one set I sent back to him, the other I kept to share with others. Ray took a lot of pictures of each you doing everyday things so I gave the copies of your pictures to your families.

More Negatives and Photos in Ray Frank's Personal Effects

When everyone came home and I received Ray’s personal effects there were the pictures that he hadn't given away and the negatives. Word of the large number of pictures got out and several folks asked for copies. In a few situations folks marked the photos they wanted and we just had multiple copies made.

Many Benefit from the Negatives and Photos Taken

Randy Jones Make Copies of Photos of from Somalia

Randy Jones wanted a complete set and asked if he could take the negatives to the unit and get some made. Well, I really didn't think about what I was doing and gave him all the pictures and all the negatives. Randy got his copies and I believe others did as well, but I never got anything back.

CW2 Vic Rodriquez Gave the Negatives and Photos to an Unnamed Captain in the 160th SOAR

Over the years I have often asked about the pictures but nothing has been found. The story, as I understand it, is that when the photo lab completed making the copies all my negative and pictures were given to a CW2 Vic Rodriguez to return to me. According to retired Mr. Rodriguez, he passed to a Captain who said he would be seeing me and get them to me. From there the story goes cold.

Return These Photos and Negatives to Willi Frank

I would really like to have those pictures returned. There are a few in particular I am looking for… I know they are out there somewhere because every now and then I see one or two. Please if you know who has my pictures. Let them know I want them back and let me know who it is and I will approach them directly.

Your help in finding these photos and negatives is greatly appreciated.

(Some of these photos have appeared in books and newspapers attributed to US Army.)