Leavitt, Frank S. - Revision history

Admin: Polish Leavitt biography; drop Notable-slide preamble

2026-09-16T19:31:21Z

Polish Leavitt biography; drop Notable-slide preamble

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:31, 16 September 2026
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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	~~'''~~Frank S. Leavitt~~''' — First Sergeant; known as "Man Mountain Dean"~~. ~~Summary~~ from ~~a Notable Ritchie Boys slide ([https://docs~~.~~google~~.~~com/presentation/d/1EWiegWT3PMxAFXS7MZLxFFLMZg0265GK5_Axp_XnzWM source])~~.		Frank Simmons Leavitt was born on 30 June 1891 in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City. Exceptionally large from childhood, he enlisted in the Army before World War I—early age records are cloudy—and served multiple hitches under Gen. John J. Pershing, including Mexican-border duty and combat in France.

	Frank Simmons Leavitt was born on 30 June 1891 in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City. Exceptionally large from childhood, he entered the Army before World War I (after arranging a Bowery stranger to sign enlistment papers in place of his father, which clouds some early age records). He served multiple hitchs under Gen. John J. Pershing, including Mexican-border duty and combat in France.		After the war he played college and professional football, then became a celebrated professional wrestler, first as Soldier Leavitt and later as Man Mountain Dean, and also worked in films and stunts. In World War II he returned to uniform as a first sergeant and hand-to-hand combat instructor at Camp Ritchie. Ritchie Boys remembered the shorn, 320-pound celebrity teaching close combat and American slang before overseas deployment.

	After the war he played college and professional football, then became a celebrated professional ~~wrestler—first~~ as Soldier Leavitt, later as Man Mountain ~~Dean—and appeared~~ in films and ~~stunt work~~. In World War II he returned to uniform as a first sergeant and hand-to-hand combat instructor at Camp Ritchie~~, where~~ Ritchie Boys remembered the shorn, 320-pound celebrity teaching close combat and American slang.

	He died on 29 May 1953.		He died on 29 May 1953.

	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
	* Alias: Man Mountain Dean
	* Rank listed as First Sergeant on Notable Ritchie Boys slide
	* Instructor status unclear from the slide (unlike Rex Applegate, who is explicitly labeled Instructor)
	* Listed on Notable Ritchie Boys slides; no ASN found in the class roster import
	* Portrait and summary from Notable Ritchie Boys slides ( )
	* No ASN in Classes 1–31 roster import; page originates from Notable Ritchie Boys slides plus Sports Illustrated (June 2022) profile.		* No ASN in Classes 1–31 roster import; page originates from Notable Ritchie Boys slides plus Sports Illustrated (June 2022) profile.

Admin: RB Archive batch-6 enrichment: Full chronological regen from SI; DOB/DOD; NYC birthplace

2026-09-16T18:43:37Z

RB Archive batch-6 enrichment: Full chronological regen from SI; DOB/DOD; NYC birthplace

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:43, 16 September 2026
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	\|first=Frank		\|first=Frank
	\|middle=S.		\|middle=S.
	\|alias=Man Mountain Dean		\|alias=Man Mountain Dean; Frank Simmons Leavitt
	\|birth_year=1891		\|birth_year=1891
	\|death_year=1953		\|death_year=1953
	\|class_rank=First Sergeant		\|class_rank=First Sergeant
	\|photo=Leavitt, Frank S.jpg		\|photo=Leavitt, Frank S.jpg
			\|birth_date=30 June 1891
			\|death_date=29 May 1953
			\|rank_final=First Sergeant
			\|nativity=United States
			\|birth_place=New York City
	}}		}}

	<div class="soldier-lead">		<div class="soldier-lead">
	'''Frank S. Leavitt''' (1891~~–~~1953), known as '''Man Mountain Dean''', was a ~~United States Army First Sergeant associated with [[~~Camp Ritchie~~]], Maryland~~.		'''Frank S. Leavitt''' (30 June 1891 – 29 May 1953), known as '''Man Mountain Dean''', was a professional wrestler and Camp Ritchie hand-to-hand combat instructor who trained Ritchie Boys before overseas deployment.
	</div>		</div>

	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	'''Frank S. Leavitt''' — First Sergeant; known as "Man Mountain Dean". Summary from a Notable Ritchie Boys slide ([https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EWiegWT3PMxAFXS7MZLxFFLMZg0265GK5_Axp_XnzWM source]).		'''Frank S. Leavitt''' — First Sergeant; known as "Man Mountain Dean". Summary from a Notable Ritchie Boys slide ([https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EWiegWT3PMxAFXS7MZLxFFLMZg0265GK5_Axp_XnzWM source]).

			Frank Simmons Leavitt was born on 30 June 1891 in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City. Exceptionally large from childhood, he entered the Army before World War I (after arranging a Bowery stranger to sign enlistment papers in place of his father, which clouds some early age records). He served multiple hitchs under Gen. John J. Pershing, including Mexican-border duty and combat in France.

			After the war he played college and professional football, then became a celebrated professional wrestler—first as Soldier Leavitt, later as Man Mountain Dean—and appeared in films and stunt work. In World War II he returned to uniform as a first sergeant and hand-to-hand combat instructor at Camp Ritchie, where Ritchie Boys remembered the shorn, 320-pound celebrity teaching close combat and American slang.

			He died on 29 May 1953.

	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
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	* Listed on Notable Ritchie Boys slides; no ASN found in the class roster import		* Listed on Notable Ritchie Boys slides; no ASN found in the class roster import
	* Portrait and summary from Notable Ritchie Boys slides ( )		* Portrait and summary from Notable Ritchie Boys slides ( )
			* No ASN in Classes 1–31 roster import; page originates from Notable Ritchie Boys slides plus Sports Illustrated (June 2022) profile.

	== Gallery ==		== Gallery ==
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	\| row_source \|\| notable_slides_manual		\| row_source \|\| notable_slides_manual
	\|}		\|}

			== Timeline ==
			<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
			<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
			* 30 June 1891 — Born in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City.
			* Pre–World War I / WWI — Multiple Army enlistments under Pershing; France.
			* 1920s–1930s — Football; professional wrestling as Man Mountain Dean; film work.
			* WWII — First sergeant / hand-to-hand instructor, Camp Ritchie.
			* 29 May 1953 — Died.
			</div>
			</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
			* Sports Illustrated, June 2022 — “Uncle Slam’s Secret Army” profile of Man Mountain Dean / Frank Leavitt at Camp Ritchie (RB Archive PDF)
	* [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EWiegWT3PMxAFXS7MZLxFFLMZg0265GK5_Axp_XnzWM Notable Ritchie Boys slides]		* [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EWiegWT3PMxAFXS7MZLxFFLMZg0265GK5_Axp_XnzWM Notable Ritchie Boys slides]

Admin: Remove Research notes URLs (review list retained offline)

2026-09-11T04:24:28Z

Remove Research notes URLs (review list retained offline)

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:24, 11 September 2026
Line 23:		Line 23:
	* Instructor status unclear from the slide (unlike Rex Applegate, who is explicitly labeled Instructor)		* Instructor status unclear from the slide (unlike Rex Applegate, who is explicitly labeled Instructor)
	* Listed on Notable Ritchie Boys slides; no ASN found in the class roster import		* Listed on Notable Ritchie Boys slides; no ASN found in the class roster import
	* Portrait and summary from Notable Ritchie Boys slides (~~[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EWiegWT3PMxAFXS7MZLxFFLMZg0265GK5_Axp_XnzWM source]~~).		* Portrait and summary from Notable Ritchie Boys slides ( )

	== Gallery ==		== Gallery ==

Admin: Create page from Notable Ritchie Boys slide (no ASN in roster)

2026-08-22T02:25:17Z

Create page from Notable Ritchie Boys slide (no ASN in roster)

New page

{{Soldier
|lede_on_page=1
|surname=Leavitt
|first=Frank
|middle=S.
|alias=Man Mountain Dean
|birth_year=1891
|death_year=1953
|class_rank=First Sergeant
|photo=Leavitt, Frank S.jpg
}}

<div class="soldier-lead">
'''Frank S. Leavitt''' (1891–1953), known as '''Man Mountain Dean''', was a United States Army First Sergeant associated with [[Camp Ritchie]], Maryland.
</div>

== Biography ==
'''Frank S. Leavitt''' — First Sergeant; known as "Man Mountain Dean". Summary from a Notable Ritchie Boys slide ([https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EWiegWT3PMxAFXS7MZLxFFLMZg0265GK5_Axp_XnzWM source]).

== Research notes ==
* Alias: Man Mountain Dean
* Rank listed as First Sergeant on Notable Ritchie Boys slide
* Instructor status unclear from the slide (unlike Rex Applegate, who is explicitly labeled Instructor)
* Listed on Notable Ritchie Boys slides; no ASN found in the class roster import
* Portrait and summary from Notable Ritchie Boys slides ([https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EWiegWT3PMxAFXS7MZLxFFLMZg0265GK5_Axp_XnzWM source]).

== Gallery ==
Use the '''Upload for this soldier''' box below (log in required), or [[Special:Upload]]. Profile photos: check '''Use as profile photo'''.

== Technical record ==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! Field !! Imported value
|-
| row_source || notable_slides_manual
|}

== Sources ==
* [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EWiegWT3PMxAFXS7MZLxFFLMZg0265GK5_Axp_XnzWM Notable Ritchie Boys slides]