Post by Registrar on Feb 22, 2014 14:58:20 GMT 8
On February 13th, 2014, John Teffenhart died peacefully in his sleep at home in California, USA. He was 95 years old.
Sgt. John Teffenhart
As a 24 year old member of "H" Company, Third Battalion, 503rd PRCT, Sgt. Teffenhart was among the first to jump onto Drop Zone ‘A’ (the Topside Parade Ground). Sometime after 8:30am on February 16th 1945, his stick exited the C-47 transport plane and two swings later, he was on the ground. Aerial photos taken that day show most paratroopers landed a bit south-west of the Parade Ground towards Battery Wheeler but he was right on target landing near the NW corner of it. He was in command of a 60mm Mortar squad.After Corregidor, Mr. Teffenhart fought with the 503d in Negros, where he was seriously wounded. Negros was, in most every respect, a far more costly, difficult and emotionally exhausting campaign than Corregidor, made all the more unfortunate for the almost total lack of recognition that the campaign drew. Other than in books written by members of the 503d themselves, there is next to nothing in print about the fighting there. It was a totally inappropriate misuse of a premiere paratrooper unit, and this impacted upon the men who fought there. Mr. Teffenhart recalled witnessing events on Negros "that will haunt him forever."
In 2012, at age 93, he was likely the most senior paratrooper to have revisited the Rock. Some of our members had the opportunity of meeting him there. John Moffitt recalls him as "an amazing man to talk to and understandably did not prefer any fuss made about his trip."
A simple CFI Honor Guard met him on arrival, which he readily appreciated.
During the course of this visit, Mr. Teffenhart was interviewed for our film CORREGIDOR - THE ROAD BACK and appears as one of the "magnificent seven" paratroopers who shared their memories of service during WWII.
We thank him for his service, and mourn the passing of another of our friends.
- exo
(Thanks Fots2 for the information and image)