Frederick William Mingledorff, Jr. was born circa 1925 in Savannah, Georgia and grew up in Hinesville where his family owned a Ford dealership. In 1941 he enrolled in North Georgia College in Dahlonega after his graduation from the Bradwell Institute. While at North Georgia College he took the compulsory military training. A year later he transferred to Furman University, later joining the United States Marine Corps in 1943. He was stationed in Guam with Company A, Fourth Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 3rd Amphibious Corps, during World War II. While in Guam he contracted malaria and dysentery sending him to a hospital ship while the rest of his unit was sent to Iwo Jima. In March of 1945 Fred was discharged and returned to Georgia. He enrolled in the University of Georgia earning a business degree in 1948. He married his wife, Patty, and remained active with the Hinesville American Legion, the Disabled American Veteran Association and the Marine Corps Birthday Ball.

Frederick William Mingledorff, Sr. was married to Inez E. Mingledorff and lived in Liberty County, Georgia. He served in the United States Army during World War I in Battery D of the 61st Artillery (Coast Artillery Corps). This group was organized in March 1918 at Ft. Moultrie, South Carolina from existing regular Army units and companies from Georgia and South Carolina. They traveled overseas in July 1918 and returned to the United States in February 1919 when the unit was demobilized.