John Lee McAfee

John Lee McAfee was born June 23, 1906 in Corsicana, Navarro County Texas to LeRoy R. and Johnnie Velma (Inmon) McAfee.  He was the grandson of Almerine Cicero & Margaret Elizabeth (Terry) McAfee. On June 22, 1930, he married Eva Hazel Morris (1906-1937), the daughter of Henry Wilford & Ollie Nadine (Hubbard) Morris.  They had two children, Joann and John Mark McAfee.  John served in World War II under General Patton.  His wife, Johnnie, died on March 19, 1937,  John died on Dec 4, 1981 and they are buried in the McAfee plot in the Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.

Corsicana City Directory:
1926 - McAfee John L trav r1141 (1041) N Beaton
1931 - McAfee John L (Hazel) clk Jos Kaplan r210 W 4th av

Man and Women of Navarro County in World War II
Sgt. John L. McAfee, son of Mr. and Mrs Leroy McAfee, graduate of Corsicana High School. Entered service 1941, training in the Army at Camp Hood, Ft. Knox, Served in Africa, Sicily and Italy where he was wounded 1943 Has Purle Heart Inf, Combat Badge and ETO Ribbon with three stars.

News Clippings

Miss Hazel Morris Becomes Bride of John Lee McAfee
Miss Hazel Morris daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Morris of Kerens, and Johnnie Lee McAfee, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. R. McAfee of this city were united in marriage Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home of the groom's uncle, Rev. Jess McAfee of Kerens, his uncle performing the impressive ring ceremony in the presence of the bride's parents and other relatives and friends. They were attended by Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Etheredge, the bride's sister and brother-in-law, and her brother, Johnnie Morris and Miss Lola Denbow, who had accompanied them from Corsicana to Kerens.
Immediately after the ceremony they visited the bride's parents and in the late afternoon were complimented with a lovely 6 o'clock dinner at the home of the groom's parents.
The bride was wearing a most becoming power blue chiffon with hat and accessories to harmonize.
The bride has been in Corsicana the past two years with her sister, and has been an employe of the Bell Telephone Company. The groom is with the H. Kaplan dry goods store. After a week's honeymoon in Galveston, Houston and other South Texas points, Mr. and Mrs. McAfe will be at home in Corsicana and both will resume their positions.
They left this morning with Mr. and Mrs. Etheredge, making the trip to South Texas by automobile.
The Corsicana Daily Sun - Monday, June 23, 1930
View Clipping

Corsicana Soldier Wounded in Action

Cpl. John L. McAfee, 37, U. S. Army, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leroy McAfee, 1925 West Seventh avenue, was slightly wounded in action July 28, in the North Africa area, according to a telegram received by his parents Friday from the Adjutant General.

Employed at Texarkana at the time of his induction McAfee has been in the service a little over a year.  He attended the Corsicana high school.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Friday, August 20, 1943

• Submitted by Diane Richards

• View Newspaper Clipping

---

VETERAN MACHINE GUNNER IS HIGH IN PRAISE GEN. PATTON; FOUGHT IN SICILY AND ITALY

Here’re words of praise for Gen. George S. Patton, Jr., the victim of much unfavorable criticism following the soldier slapping incident in Sicicily.

“The men think highly of Gen. Patton—they would rather serve under him than anyone else—he’s a real soldier and although strong on military discipline he looks out for his men and when he gets the enemy on the run he keeps them running—you move fast when you have Gen. Patton as your commanding officer—the soldier slapping incident—well—there is probably two sides to that—at least most of the soldiers think so.”

Machine Gunner

This statement was made by Cpl. John L. McAfee, 45^th Division, Infantry machine gunner, veteran of three amphibious landings including Sicily, Salerno and Anzlo, decorated with the Purple Heart and holder of the Good Conduct Medal.

“You get plenty of action with Gen. Patton and the men certainly like him,” the veteran of twelve months overseas fighting said.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy McAfee, 1925 West Seventh avenue, the veteran entered the service May 18, 1942, and landed at Oran North Africa May 20, 1943.

In Sicily Campaign

The 45^th, composed of men from Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Arizona hit the beaches as a part of the 7^th Army at Gala, Sicily, July 10.  “We surprised the enemy with the landing but we encountered very stiff fighting before we captured the Gala airport,”  McAfee said.

He then related moving on up the coast to Bloody Ridge, where there was much hard fighting.  It was in this battle, July 28, that McAfee was hit by a piece of shrapnel.  He was in the hospital for six weeks.

“On September 10, the 45^th followed the 36^th in the Salerno landings,” the soldier said.  “The 36^th went in first and took the shock and we followed.  Many men in my division were captured at Salerno,” he said.

McAfee said that the 45^th then went on to Naples and into the Venefro mountains.  Later the outfit was ordered to Anzlo where the 3^rd and 45^th Divisions made landings January 18 it was stated.

Hard Fighting

“This was a small beachhead and we did some of our hardest fighting here,” the soldier observed.  “We repulsed many counter-attacks—the Germans are tough—and there was much seesaw fighting with heavy casualties for the enemy.  In these counter-attacks, German soldiers—19 and 20 years of age—walked right into our machine guns—like they were drunk or doped—with utter disregard for their lives—we would mow them down with machine guns, but there were others to take their place.  They charged right over flat country with no attempt to take advantage of any natural protection” McAfee related.

Germans Tough

It was McAfee’s opinion that the Germans will be hard to whip—expecially the young ones—“ you just have to kill them,” he said.  According to the soldier some Poles and Czechs fighting with the Germans surrender at the first opportunity.

“The morale of the 45^th was always high—regardless of the danger and personal hardships there was always someone ready with a wisecrack and were ready to see the humorous side of the situation—anything for a laugh,” McAfee observed with a smile.

No April Fool

McAfee was under fire in the front lines April 1, when he was informed that he was going home on furlough. “I thought it was an April Fool joke and could hardly believe it.” smiled the soldier.  “They took me back and put me in a cave and warned me not to get hurt before I could be evacuated from the front.”

The soldier landed in the States May 15.  He is on a 21 day furlough and will report to Ft. Sam Houston for reassignment.  The furlough was granted in keeping with the rotation plan now in effect.  He wears the campaign ribbon of the Mediterrancan Theatre of Operations with three stars, Good Conduct and Purple Heart ribbons.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Friday, May 26, 1944

• Submitted by Diane Richards

• View Clipping: Part 1 |  Part 2 | Part 3

Photograph by Edward L. Williams
Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX

OBITUARY:
Corsicana Daily Sun
John L. McAfee
John L. McAfee, 75, of Corsicana, died at veterans hospital in Temple Friday. Service is Monday, 2 p.m., Corley Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Bill Grisham officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery. He was in the infantry in World War II and served under General Patton and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also a member of the Methodist church and a merchant for a clothing firm. Survivors include his son, John Mark McAfee, of Arlington; a daughter, Mrs Joan Cravens, of Houston; six grandchildren; two brothers, the Rev. Joe McAfee, of Round Rock, and Bobby McAfee, of Houston; three sisters, Mrs. Marcialete Hettig, of Houston, Mrs. Jean Gray, of Corsicana, and Mrs. Florine Gray, of Corsicana; and a number of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers are Bunk Dixon, Bruce Roby, R.M. Drain, Pete McCain, Odell Green and Asa Fulton.

Notes:

• Submitted by Edward L. Williams