Ben Kirksey transcript

Collection — Container: Single Folder Collections - 2004 Box 5 (04.0155-04.0183), Folder: 04.0158 - Folder 1

Identifier: 04.0158

Staff Only

Content Description

This collection relates to Ben Kirksey who served as an ammunition loader with the 584th Ammunition Company in Europe from 6 July 1944 until the end of WWII. This collection includes an oral history transcript of Kirksey.

Dates

1942-1945
Other: Date accessioned: 2005-05-16

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical / Historical

Ben Kirksey was born on February 13, 1920 in Jefferson County, Florida.

He was under fire from a German airplane while in Holland. After VE day he had a three day liberty in Paris and saw the Eiffel Tower. His unit worked between the US infantry and artillery units on the front line. He recalls seeing dead German soldiers and dead horses as his unit advanced into Holland and Belgium.

He was born and raised in Jefferson County, FL. He finished sixth grade. He remembers hunting and fishing as a boy. Prior to being drafted in 1942 he worked in Clay County, FL.

After he returned to the US, he re-enlisted for three years with an Army tank retrieval company and returned to Europe. He recalls dating European women. He denies experiencing racism in the military. He had two brothers who also served in the military.

After being discharged from the Army, he returned to Jefferson County where he farmed on rented property. He brought home a German pistol as a souvenir, but it was lost after he gave it to an uncle. He died in Monticello (Jefferson County) Florida on January 20, 2010.