Warriors Watch Riders Honor U.S. Army SPC Franklin McAnally Jr. of Crystal Lake

U.S. Army Spc. Franklin McAnally, Jr., of Crystal Lake, was on his way home Saturday, May 4, to enjoy a two-week leave with his family from deployment in Afghanistan.

When he arrived near the border of Crystal Lake and Lake in the Hills, he was met by 43 members of the Warriors Watch Riders as well as fire and police officers from Crystal Lake, Algonquin and Lake in the Hills.

The Warriors and officers welcomed home McAnally, Jr., in "WWR" style and escorted McAnally to a celebratory dinner. Traffic along Randall was slowed for a time as police and fire vehicles sound horns and flashed lights.

McAnally, Jr., has only a two-week break to spend with his family before leaving for his next deployment, said his mother, Donna McAnally, of Crystal Lake. 

McAnally, born in Memphis, Tenn., moved to Crystal Lake in 1994. He attended public schools in Crystal Lake and graduated from Crystal Lake South High School in 2005, his mother said.

He obtained an Associates Degree in law enforcement from McHenry County College in Crystal Lake and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2010. In December of that year, McAnally was stationed with the 172nd Separate Infantry Brigade, Blackhawks in Germany.

His brigade was deployed to the Paktika Province in Afghanistan in July 2011.  McAnally earned his Combat Infantry Badge in September of 2011 and earned the Army Commendation Medal in February 2012. 

Back in Germany, he was awarded the German Schutzenschnur Proficiency Badge, was made a Team Leader in October 2012 and made Commander’s List at Warrior Leadership Training Course in November 2012, where he also won Hero of the Cycle, according to Donna McAnally.

Franklin’s brother, Brock McAnally is currently at U.S. Navy Boot Camp at Great Lakes. He has a contract for pre-BUDs with the end result of being a Navy SEAL, his mother said.