His mother died, when Frank was only seven years old, and his family moved to California, where his father later remarried to woman named Helen Huston.

He was also a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and was active in Big "W" Club, uniting all athletes who won "W" Letter in any university sport.

[1][2] Following the United States entry into World War II, Garretson was still serving in Bremerton, before he was promoted to captain on August 7, 1942, and transferred to Camp Elliott near San Diego, California.

He assumed command of Company "F" and participated in the intensive training focused on scouting and patrolling, firing of weapons, landings from LCVP's, night attacks and defenses, the use of cover, concealment, and camouflage, map work, close combat with bayonet, knife, and Judo.

[1][2] The 24th's objective was Roi-Namur island, serving as strategic Japanese Airfield and base, and 2nd Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Francis H. Brink landed on February 1, 1944, on the right flank, where the preponderance of warehouses, barracks and pillboxes was situated.

[1][2] Following Saipan, lieutenant colonel Rothwell was detached for another assignment and Garretson assumed command of 2nd Battalion and was ordered to Tinian, neighboring island.

The 24th Marines then operated near the west coast of the island and ran into Japanese positions that included a series of mutually supporting bunkers.

[3][5][6][7][1][8] The Fourth Marine Division was then ordered to Maui, Hawaii, where Garretson participated in the intensive training of replacements for casualties sustained in the Marianas.

[1][2] Following his return stateside, Garretson became head of the Officer Ground Control Unit, Personnel Department at Headquarters Marine Corps under Major General John T. Walker.

Following the Gulf of Tonkin incident the same month, which led to the escalation of Vietnam War, Garretson began with the preparation for deployment of his regiment.

He was transferred back to the United States by the end of August and received his second Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for his service in Da Nang.

[13][2] Garretson was then ordered to Washington, D.C., and assumed duty as Marine Corps liaison officer to the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral David L. McDonald.

Garretson was succeeded in command of Task Force Hotel by Brigadier general Robert B. Carney Jr. by the end of March 1969 and remained on the headquarters of 3rd Marine Division for one month, before departed for Okinawa, Japan for new assignment.

While in this capacity, he was responsible for several Marine Corps installations on Okinawa, which served as training and replacements centers for combat units in South Vietnam.

[1][2] In September 1969, Garretson was ordered back to the United States and assumed duty as deputy commander, Camp Pendleton, California under Major General George S. Bowman Jr.

[17] Brigadier General Frank E. Garretson died of renal failure after three weeks of illness on January 23, 2006, aged 87, at his home in San Diego.

They had together three children: daughters Sarah and Cecily; and son John, who served in the Navy Medical Corps and retired as captain, USN.