Honoring Our Heroes

CAPTAIN MICHAEL JEFFRIES

Captain Michael Jeffries served 10 years in the U. S. Marine Corps. His MOS's were Huey Helicopter Pilot, Parachutist, Forward Air Controller and Cobra Helicopter Pilot. His decorations, ribbons, citations and medals included: National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three stars, Air Medal with 25 stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Navy Commendation Medal with "V", Meritorious Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation with one star, Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with Palm, Presidential Unit Citation, Certificate of Commendation and Letter of Appreciation.

Captain Jeffries was born in Chicago, IL, March 20, 1943, to his parents, George and Florence Louise Jeffries, and he was reared in Pittsburg, PA, and in Dania Beach, FL, where he graduated from South Broward High School in 1961. Using a Navy R.O.T.C. scholarship, he graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. Degree in Aviation Systems in 1965, and he was commissioned at the rank of Second Lieutenant entering the U.S. Marine Corps December 16, 1965. While still a Midshipman at Auburn, he attended the U. S. Army jump school at Fort Benning, Ga, and was qualified as a parachute officer.

Captain Jeffries began his military service by completion of six months of officer training at the Basic School at Quantico, VA, where all newly commissioned and appointed United States Marine Corps officers are taught the basics of being an Officer of Marines. He remained at Quantico serving as the Assistant Clubs Officer for three months. Next, he reported to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL, for training to be a Marine helicopter pilot in 1966. He then went to the New River Air Station at Camp LeJeune, NC, where he was assigned to Observation Squadron One, and he became qualified as a pilot in the HUEY H-1 helicopter which had a crew of two to four members.

Captain Jeffries then served 385 days in Vietnam where he was stationed at the Marble Mt. Air Facility near Da Nang. After completing the "Forward Air Controller" course, he served as the Air Officer for the Seventh Marine Regiment for three months, and he flew dangerous missions on the HUEY Gunship. His next assignment was for three years at Kaneohe Bay, HI, where he served with the "1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company" (1st ANGLICO). The mission of ANGLICO is to provide Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Commanders the liaison capability to plan, coordinate and conduct terminal control of fires in support of joint, allied and coalition forces. Per this mission statement, ANGLICO is designed to support U.S. Marine Corps maneuver elements or allied organizations that do not have those capabilities. His first job in Hawaii was jumping out of planes, thirty times in one year, followed by two years of service at Headquarters Squadron Fleet Marine Force Pacific.

Captain Jeffries then served for one year at Camp Pendleton flying Cobras with Marine Attack Helicopter Squadron 369. He was deployed to Okinawa for 10 months as a Cobra helicopter pilot. He then served two years (1974-1976) at Camp Pendleton with the Huey Squadron. Captain Jeffries retired from active duty June 30, 1976 at Camp Pendleton. Captain Jeffries' conclusions about his military service are, "I had a profound sense of duty. I did my duty and never quit. I never refused a job. On every job that I was given, I did my duty and gave 100%."

After his military service, Captain Jeffries worked for Texas Instruments Inc., an American technology company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that designed and manufactured semiconductors and various integrated circuits which it sold to electronics designers and manufacturers globally. He began work as a manufacturing engineer responsible for buying, manufacturing, scheduling and assembling parts for one year. He was then transferred to the flight department flight testing military flight systems for 20 years. Lastly he was an executive transport pilot for six years. He retired from Texas Instruments in March 2003.

Captain Jeffries and his wife, Patricia Ann, have been married 58 years, and they have two children and five grandchildren. Mike's father, George, served in the Navy, and Mike's son, Michael, served in the Marines retiring at the rank of Lt. Colonel. Captain Jeffries and his wife moved to Millbrook, AL, to be near their family. They enjoy travel such as cruises.

They are members of the St. Michael All Angels' Episcopal Church in Millbrook. He has a workshop at his house that is 3500 square feet where he makes things from wood and iron for his family and church. He is a member of the Millbrook Men's Club, and he is a Board member of the Montgomery Chapter of Military Officers of America. Captain Jeffries is now serving as the Commandant in the Townsend Detachment #920 of the Marine Corps.