Staff Sgt. Thomas R. Daffron
Staff Sgt. Thomas R. Daffron
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Thomas R. Daffron, of Kimberling City, served
as a Staff Sgt. in the 177th FABA 3 Army. He
served in the European Theatre Operations.
The following information was provided by
Cathra Dickerson of Desloge.
"Thomas R. Daffron was wed on Nov. 7, 1942
to Geneva R. Emery. A short six months after
their marriage, Tom left for the service on May 11, 1943 and went to England. Tom Jr. was born Aug. 22, 1943 while he was away
serving his country."
"He then left for overseas in February
1944. On Aug 26, 1944, he was hit in the head
by shell fragment and had a compound fracture to the skull while he was in France, 26
miles from Paris. He was in the hospital four
months, was then shipped to the states while he recuperated and then was sent back. He still has a steel plate in his head."
"He became a Staff Sgt. while overseas and
was in charge of the motor pool. During this
time, his wife didn't hear from him until he was shipped to the states. His first and only
son was 9 months old before he ever saw him."
"He was in England two months before the
invasion, went in on Omaha Beach. He served in
five campaigns and received five Bronze stars for Normandy, France, Rhineland, Ardennes,
Central Europe and the Battle of the Bulge. He
was discharged Oct 27, 1945."
"Shortly after returning home he started a
business, Daffron's Body and Repair Shop which he owned and operated for 30 years before
retiring 19 years ago."
Tom and Geneva live in Kimbeling City
ever since they retired. They have been
married 52 years.
THE DAILY JOURNAL, St. Francois County, Missouri, Wednesday, April 26, 1995.
