Hey Bob, your astute photographic analysis ...
has to be right on:
as evidenced by the smiling faces of the first four captains, and the pokerface of Morrie Stoffer (on the far right of the photo - the best combat soldier in the lot), whose gaze is directed at the "pile" in question."Alright, which one of you A**clowns took a crap on my map board??"
The language suggested would not have been appropriate to Bob Frankland, who was a Tennessee gentleman (like Walt Johnson, the regimental commander, he was a NG officer). Bill Lyman, in his Bn history ("Curlew History", long out of print and not on line that I could find), noted that Frankland was "much more than a superior tactician and battle director ... He was innately considerate and gentlemanly in his dealings with all those under his command. ... Under his guidance, the battalion was noticeably free of the petty jealousies and bickerings that plagued so many units."
Bob Frankland also was a decent pistol shot under stress. 7 Aug 1944, St.-Barthelemy, France (from Lyman) "As he entered [the front door of his HQ FOP], he saw two of his HQ men, hands up, walking out the rear door in front of two Germans. The Bn CO pulled out his pistol, ran to the door and promptly shot the two Jerries dead." LTC was awarded the DSC for his role in resolving the very fluid situation at St.-Barthelemy (the .45 bit was only a small part), where 1/117 and the 117th's Cannon Coy stacked up Liebstandarte (1SSPz) in front of the regimental HQ. And, had their bacon saved by Wilf's RAF Typhoons, I should add (with a sincere hat tip to your dad's tactical counterparts).
More to the point involved (planning and the "Huddle"), two folks aren't shown in the photo, but who entered into the planning process for 1/117. One was the Bn XO, Hank Koczowka (MAJ), and Able Coy CO, when the Bn landed at Omaha a week after the invasion. The other was the S-3, Dave Easlick (CPT), and Dog Coy CO when the Bn landed - a Michigan boy from Ann Arbor. As to his rapport with LTC Frankland (from Lyman): "The two officers complemented each other perfectly. The LTC was thorough, sound, dependable; the CPT quick, clever, brilliant. ... The First Battalion was a good team."
By mid-Nov 1944, that planning team consisted of 7 then or former combat company commanders - and Bob Frankland, who like the others hadn't seen combat before Normandy. As Ken has said elsewhere, the good ones learn quick in heavy combat.
PS: Bob Frankland's very brief "bio", by his grand-daughter Laila, is here - complete with the "pile" photo (from Bill Lyman's book). She wasn't quite on about the decorations: 4 BS; 2 SS and the DSC (from Lyman).
At bottom of page, AAR for Mortain (St Bart) engagement & 3 maps. A snip with my added text is attached so that Wilf will know whereof I speak re: RAF.
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