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Bennie Jeffries
Hatteberg's People
Reporter: Larry Hatteberg
| November 5, 2006--Veteran’s Day comes and goes every year. But for many who have served in the military, their war has yet to be won. For veterans like Bennie Jefferies of rural Wellington, his war continues to be fought. It is post traumatic stress syndrome that Bennie fights. |
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Over sixty years after his World War II service, his personal war has no sign of letting up.
“There’s no way…that I can get it out of my memory.”
Bennie Jefferies was a tail gunner on a B-17 in World War II. He proudly served his country. 64 years later the war he fought may be over for history, but not for Bennie.
“I think one of the worst things about it is, since my wife’s gone, I hate to go to bed at night. A lot of times I’ll stay up till 3 or 4 in the morning.” |
In the early 40’s Bennie was a newlywed. Twila Marie was his wife. The day after they were married Bennie received his draft notice. A few days later he left for the war.
“She had married a kind loving young man.”
She didn’t marry a soldier. |
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When I come back, she said I was still fighting the war…had all these years, and she wanted her kind loving husband back.”
And to this day, he is still fighting the shadows of history and the horror of war.
“My position was right back here and I sat right back here with my legs doubled up under me.”
On one mission they had part of their wing shot off. But what bothers him most, is that once they had to drop their bombs in order to maintain altitude. Where those bombs went has haunted him for over half a century.
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“They could have landed in a farmer’s open field, or in a hospital or a school yard.
I know I survived by the grace of God. And I hope God will forgive me for my part of that.” |
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The young tail gunner from Kansas….still fighting a war that for him…will never end.
“When it’s over for me, will be the time I’m laying in the coffin.” |
Larry’s Note– Post traumatic stress syndrome is very real and affects more veterans than we’ll ever know. Bennie sees counselors at the VA hospital every week….all this from a war that ended sixty-two years ago.
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