Soft launch: Soldier biographies and research notes vary in completeness. Prefer class-roster, NARA, newspapers, and other cited sources for contested facts — treat Research notes as leads, not settled history. Anyone can correct a page; contact us with questions.
Leavitt, Frank S.: Difference between revisions
Remove Research notes URLs (review list retained offline) |
RB Archive batch-6 enrichment: Full chronological regen from SI; DOB/DOD; NYC birthplace |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
|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 | '''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 == | ||
| Line 24: | Line 35: | ||
* 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 == | ||
| Line 35: | Line 47: | ||
| 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] | ||
Revision as of 18:43, 16 September 2026
| Frank S. Leavitt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Man Mountain Dean Frank Simmons Leavitt |
| Born | 30 June 1891 New York City |
| Died | 29 May 1953 |
| Nativity | United States |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Rank | First Sergeant |
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
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.
Biography
Frank S. Leavitt — First Sergeant; known as "Man Mountain Dean". Summary from a Notable Ritchie Boys slide (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
- 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.
Gallery
Use the Upload for this soldier box below (log in required), or Special:Upload. Profile photos: check Use as profile photo.
Technical record
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| row_source | notable_slides_manual |
Timeline
- 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.
Sources
- Sports Illustrated, June 2022 — “Uncle Slam’s Secret Army” profile of Man Mountain Dean / Frank Leavitt at Camp Ritchie (RB Archive PDF)
- Notable Ritchie Boys slides