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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStanley D. Seffert, Brazos Valley HeroesBy Bill You ngkin Special to The Eagle Stanley D. Seffert of Bryan was born in Wantagh, New York, a small town on Long Island, on July 13, 1919. But the first language he learned to speak was German. According to Seffert, "My father was born in Germany and had moved to America with his parents. My mother was born in America, but her parents had also immigrated from Germany and she grew up in a German-speaking home. "About the time I was to graduate from Amityville High in Amityville, New York in 1937, the war was beginning in Europe and I wanted to join the army and fly. My father wouldn't allow it. In 1939 the draft was starting and it looked like I would be drafted. My father wanted me to run away to Canada because he didn't want me to be involved in a war against the 'fatherland: My parents were Americans, but they, - especially my father, - were also very good Germans. "I didn't evade the draft but joined instead, in the hopes that I could fly. I was sent through basic training and was assigned for training as an aircraft mechanic. The army at that time was only allowing college graduates into its flight program, and I only had a high school education at that time. "When the program opened up, I applied for the aviation cadet program and passed my exam and was accepted by the army into the flight cadet program. The army sent me to Ontario, California, for aviation cadet training and then to Stockton Field, California, for further training. On August 27, 1942,1 received my wings and my commission as a second lieutenant. "I was sent to the 89th Troop Carrier Command in Sedalia, Missouri, to train as a troop carrier pilot. Our duty was to assist in the training of airborne troops who were being assembled for the war" The army had almost no planes to use as troop carriers at the beginning of the war, so the army appropriated DC- 35's and DSTs from the small U.S. airlines and then converted them to C-53s and C-49s. The war effort then started producing C-47s, which would become the primary aircraft used in airborne training. Not only would these troop carriers be used in training for the airborne troops, they would also be used as tow planes for the glider program. This would be the primary task of the 89th Troop Carrier Command, to which Seffert belonged. Because of his skill, he was selected an instructor pilot. According to Seffert, "Being an instructor pilot was not the safest thing I ever did. When we assisted with dropping the airborne troops, I became curious about what it felt like to jump. I got some quick instruction and made my firstjump. I decided the next jump I made would be out of necessity" In early 1945 Seffert was sent to Europe as part of the 9th l Air Force, 306th Squadron, where he flew C-47s, primarily on a supply and troop carrier missions. He continued that duty until the war's end. According to Seffert, "After the war ended I received a letter from my mother, Josepha Joeanneta Meier Seffert, and 'I. the letter had an army address. Much to my great surprise, my mother informed me that she too was now in the army and was stationed at Offenbock, Germany, as part of the Army's counter-intelligence program. "My mother not only spoke fluent German, but she could also read the old German script. Somehow the Army found this out and showed up on her doorstep one morning. They asked her if she was willing to volunteer for the program. She said yes and the army soon had her in Offenback assisting in reviewing documents for the war crimes trials that were to begin. "When my colonel found out that my mother was in the army and also in Germany, he let me fly to Offenback to see her... There were several father-and-son combinations in the war, but only three mother-and-son combinations. We were one of those three." After the war Seffert would stay in the reserves as a pilot, while beginning a career as a commercial pilot. He joined American Airlines in 1950 as a pilot and retired from American Airlines in 1979. He remained in the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a full colonel in 1963. He originally retired to Hilltop Lakes, but became involved as an owner of Alltex Interior Supply, a sheetrock business, until it was sold to USG about 10 years ago. Four years ago, he made another parachute jump, which he says is his last. Looking back on his World War II experience, Seffert said: "My service is something I never regretted, because I served the greatest country in the world. America has the greatest capability of being God's children" Stanley D. Seffert's name is found on the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial. If you want to have a name added to k the Veterans Memorial, for more information, to ma e In late 1942 Seffert would be assigned to Del Valle a contribution, or if you know a World War II veteran Air Base near Austin, what would later become known as whose story needs to be told, contact the BVVM at www. Bergstrom Air Force Base. He was now a first lieutenant. veteransmemorial,orgorBill Youngkinat(979)160-7030.