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Lee Jenks, 1943 | Lee with his wife Doris, 1991 |
Last Name: ` JENKS |
First Name
Middle Initial: LEE T |
Nick Name: |
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Street: 1120 DALESIDE LN | City & State: NEW PORT RICHEY, FL | E-Mail: DORISJENKS@JUNO.COM | |
Zip: 34655 | Phone: (727) 372-7238 | Spouse: DORIS | |
Conflict: WW II | Service Branch: Army Air Corp | Unit: 8 AF 423 BS 306 BG | |
Theater: | Where Captured: HOLLAND | Date Captured: 03/29/44 | |
Camps Held In: LUFT III AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND, FRANKFORT, MEININGEN, OBERMANSFELD 9C HOSPITALS | How Long Interned: 294 days | ||
liberated / repatriated: Repatriated | Date Liberated: 01/17/45 | Age at Capture: 24 | |
Medals Received: PURPLE HEART MEDAL, AIR MEDAL W/3 CLUSTERS, POW MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ETO & ASIA MEDAL W/1 STAR, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION W/3 STARS | |||
Military Job: ENGINEER, TOP TURRENT GUNNER | Company: POPULAR CLUB AND VOGUE MAGAZINE | ||
Occupation after War: PHOTOGRAPHER |
Military Bio: Lee T. Jenks, born in Agawam, MA, November 16, 1920. Enlisted in the reserve corps. On September 19, 1942 with the U.S.A.A.F. and went to basic training in Atlantic City, NJ, on September 23, 1942. He later went to Airplane Mechanics School in Lincoln, NE, and specialized in B-17's in Longbeach, CA., he also went to Gunnery School at Wendover Field, UT, Crew Formation in Moses Lake, WA, and the Crew Training for B-17's in Geiger Field, Spokane, WA. After his training he was sent on the troop ship Queen Elizabeth from New York City to Glasglow, Scotland to the home base of the 8th Air Force, 306th Bomb Group (H), 423rd Bomb Squad in Bedford/Thurleigh, England. Their B-17, The Wampus Cat was hit over Brunswick, Germany on March 29, 1944 during Lee's 23rd mission. He bailed out southwest of Amsterdam, Holland but his leg was shattered by a 20-MM shell on the way down. Upon landing Lee was met by young German teenager of the Peoples Army or Hitler Youth. The teenage put a pistol to Lee's head and pulled the trigger. There was only a click, luckily enough the gun had jammed, but while the teenage tried to fix the gun, he proceeded to kick Lee hard in the back and the injured leg until a group of Dutch women between Lee and the teenager. The Dutch woman stayed with Lee until more Germans had arrived with the rest of Lee's crewmembers. Lee was taken to a German hospital were a German doctor repaired his injured leg, without any anesthesia. He spent six months in Stalag Luft III hospital (Wilhelmina Hospital) and then to three other hospitals until he was exchanged for German POW's at Lake Constance in Switzerland. Lee finally returned home on the hospital ship The Gripsholm on January 17, 1945 and was discharged on December 7, 1945 as a T/Sergeant. Lee retired after 40 years as a Photographer and Studio Manager for Popular Club. He is a member of the Florida State Chapter #1 and is currently a State Jr. Vice Commander in Florida. He lives New Port Richey, Florida with his wife Doris, a National Service Officer for the American Ex-Prisoners of War. |
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