John L. Jeffress was born and reared in Lenoir County, North Carolina. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II from 09/27/1941 to 09/16/1945.
Trained: Corsicana, TX 10/01/41 – 12/15/41; Sherman, TX 12/16/41 – 01/20/42; Bombardier – Aerial Gunnery School Kirkland Field, NM and Kingman, AZ.
He was a member of the 488th Bomb Squadron; 340th Bomb Group.
Medals: Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters; Distinguished Citation with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters; Southern France Campaign Battle Star; Rome-Arno Campaign Battle Star; European African Middle Eastern Ribbon.
Medically and honorably discharged due to loss of left eye when plexiglass was shattered by enemy flak while on bombing mission 09/09/1944 over Gothic line north of Florence, Italy.
