|
|
|
Independence, MO —
Veteran Salute: Fred Jeffers – World War II
BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Army
YEARS SERVED: World War II, Europe
HOMETOWN: Richmond, Mo.
JOINING UP
Fred Jeffers was raised in Richmond, Mo., on a farm with his parents and 12 siblings. When he was 18, he was drafted into the Army and went to boot camp at Camp Clayborn, La. He was then sent to Camp Shanks, N.Y., where he was told that he was being sent overseas, but not told where. He boarded a train and was shipped to Marseilles, France, and told when he arrived that he was going to the front lines.
FIGHTING IN FRANCE
Fred and his fellow soldiers were taken to the front lines to relieve another group. Before they arrived, their lieutenant warned them they would see some very difficult sights, and they should prepare themselves. When Fred switched places with a soldier in a foxhole, he told Fred that the Germans were less than a mile away at the base of a mountain. Fred could hear the Germans trying to edge closer to their position at the front line. The lieutenant told Fred that he was taking him and another soldier to go see the exact location of the Germans. They crept closer, dug a hole and waited. Eventually the Germans moved on, and Fred and his fellow soldiers reported what direction the Germans were headed.
Many times Fred and his fellow soldiers were being fired upon, and Fred knew his life was in danger. He had many close calls. He carried a Browning automatic rifle that fired 18 rounds and he had 12 magazines with him at all times.
The Germans had taken over many villages and homes. Fred and his fellow soldiers waited until after dark to clear the Germans out of the towns and the Americans took over the villages. The people were very appreciative of the Americans’ efforts and thanked them by cooking meals for them.
Fred had a brother who was also in the Army as part of a tank destroyer outfit. Fred only saw him one time while they were on the front lines. A tank destroyer group came to clear the front lines, and Fred looked up and saw his brother. They were thrilled to see each other. His brother also returned home safely after his time in the Army was done.
BACK HOME
When Fred returned home from the service, he was told by a farmer in town that he always had a job with him, so Fred worked for this farmer for 18 years. He went on to become an over-the-road truck driver. His wife, Georgia, missed him since he was gone a lot, so he gave that up went back to farming, so he could always be home at night.
Fred and Georgia were married for 63 years, and they have two sons and one daughter.
Fred now spends every weekday volunteering at the Palmer Senior Center in Independence assisting with the Nutrition Site Program. Fred loves the staff and the work he does there and he never misses a day.
Veteran Salute: Fred Jeffers – World War II
BRANCH OF SERVICE: U.S. Army
YEARS SERVED: World War II, Europe
HOMETOWN: Richmond, Mo.
JOINING UP
Fred Jeffers was raised in Richmond, Mo., on a farm with his parents and 12 siblings. When he was 18, he was drafted into the Army and went to boot camp at Camp Clayborn, La. He was then sent to Camp Shanks, N.Y., where he was told that he was being sent overseas, but not told where. He boarded a train and was shipped to Marseilles, France, and told when he arrived that he was going to the front lines.
FIGHTING IN FRANCE
Fred and his fellow soldiers were taken to the front lines to relieve another group. Before they arrived, their lieutenant warned them they would see some very difficult sights, and they should prepare themselves. When Fred switched places with a soldier in a foxhole, he told Fred that the Germans were less than a mile away at the base of a mountain. Fred could hear the Germans trying to edge closer to their position at the front line. The lieutenant told Fred that he was taking him and another soldier to go see the exact location of the Germans. They crept closer, dug a hole and waited. Eventually the Germans moved on, and Fred and his fellow soldiers reported what direction the Germans were headed.
Many times Fred and his fellow soldiers were being fired upon, and Fred knew his life was in danger. He had many close calls. He carried a Browning automatic rifle that fired 18 rounds and he had 12 magazines with him at all times.
The Germans had taken over many villages and homes. Fred and his fellow soldiers waited until after dark to clear the Germans out of the towns and the Americans took over the villages. The people were very appreciative of the Americans’ efforts and thanked them by cooking meals for them.
Fred had a brother who was also in the Army as part of a tank destroyer outfit. Fred only saw him one time while they were on the front lines. A tank destroyer group came to clear the front lines, and Fred looked up and saw his brother. They were thrilled to see each other. His brother also returned home safely after his time in the Army was done.
BACK HOME
When Fred returned home from the service, he was told by a farmer in town that he always had a job with him, so Fred worked for this farmer for 18 years. He went on to become an over-the-road truck driver. His wife, Georgia, missed him since he was gone a lot, so he gave that up went back to farming, so he could always be home at night.
Fred and Georgia were married for 63 years, and they have two sons and one daughter.
Fred now spends every weekday volunteering at the Palmer Senior Center in Independence assisting with the Nutrition Site Program. Fred loves the staff and the work he does there and he never misses a day.
