Ben Kirksey transcript, 1942-1945, Date accessioned: 2005-05-16
Collection context
Summary
- Extent:
- 1 folders
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Ben Kirksey transcript, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. https://purl.lib.fsu.edu/fa/02-04-0158
Background
- Scope and content:
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.
- 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.
- Custodial history:
Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
This collection is open to all researchers.
- Terms of access:
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.
- Preferred citation:
[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Ben Kirksey transcript, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. https://purl.lib.fsu.edu/fa/02-04-0158
- Location of this collection:
-
116 Honors WayTallahasseeFL32306-2047USA
