Project 888
Name: Wallace Mansfield JEFFERS
Rank / Rating: COX-CoxswainService #: 660 25 03 DOB: Aug 15, 1915 From: Evansville, IN Parents: Wallace Mack Jeffers (Father) Went Aboard: Jul 22, 1943 Age When Ship Went Down: 29 years, 11 months, 15 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Jeff Sweeney |
 JEFFERS, Wallace M |
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Wallace “Wally” was known for playing around southern Indiana within a town of Birdseye, what is now known as Patoka Lake, a manmade lake developed by the U.S Army core of engineers.
Since the family was large, times were tough during the Great Depression. Wally’s father, Wallace Mack, worked multiple jobs, one being a tenant farmer. Each child quit school after the 8th grade to work. The family moved multiple times, from Evansville, Indiana, to New Albany, Indiana, to Birdseye, Indiana and back to New Albany, Indiana. Wallace Jeffers began working after the seventh grade and dropped out of school. He worked as a tenant farmer before getting a job at the New Albany Box Factory and then worked as a carnival operator.
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 Wally traveled to Utah with an employer for the carnival and enlisted for the Navy Reserves.
As my grandfather’s brother, Wallace was always on his mind. The first time I remember my grandfather talking about Wallace, I was intrigued to hear more. The issue was a lack of information. Wallace moved with the carnival. Once my grandfather married and started having a family, he and Wallace would communicate, but only through brief phone calls and letters. After the tragic sinking, my grandfather was adamant on finding his brother Wallace. He wrote letters to the Guam and the Philippines seeking information. With no success he knew that his brother was gone. However, he never gave up hope on finding the truth of what happened to Wallace that clear night on board Indianapolis. I remember the phone calls once a year inviting my grandfather to the Indianapolis Survivors’ reunions, but grandpa always declined. Grandpa thought it would be too painful to know the truth of what happened to his brother. I feel that my grandfather’s passing in late 2008 reunited him with Wallace. They are finally spending time with one another, after Wallace sacrificed his life for the freedoms that we have today. Grandpa is reconnecting and knowing that his brother did not suffer in the torpedo attack that claimed his life and 878 other men.
Passing on the legacy of my Great Uncle Wallace Jeffers is my mission. The impact was great on my family-- one of depression and grief-- with the loss of a brother and friend. My goal is to research his life and legacy on USS Indianapolis to make sure that his story, the little I know of it, will continue to be shared.
Due to limited finances the family did not honor Wallace with a funeral or memorial. Wallace is memorialized on several military state monuments, the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines, and the USS Indianapolis Memorial on the canal in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Over the last 3 years, I have had the pleasure of being a member of the USS Indianapolis CA-35 Legacy Organization to honor Wallace Jeffers in a very humbling way. I have recovered his war medals, his military records, and have had a flag flown over the Indianapolis CA-35 Memorial in Indianapolis in his honor.
The last letter my grandfather received from his brother was February 4, 1945. It seems Wallace understood that a possibility that he would not be returning home. The letters write as followed:
Dear Bro:
Received your letter yesterday. Am glad to hear that everyone is O.K. This leaves me in pretty good health so far. Glad to hear that you and the rest are still working.
I’m sure glad to hear that Bill is working and hope he will keep it up and doesn’t get into the service. Tom must have a pretty good job if he is working the R.R. Sorry to hear that Warren got hurt again. I think it about time he was getting to come home again after all he won’t be able to dodge them always. I hope you can get your business started some way and that you can make out with it.
I had my insurance made out to you so you will collect if anything happens to me. You treated me decent when I was back there so I figure I owe you something and I figure you could use it someday I hope you never get it as I would like to come back and stay awhile after the war. I never heard from Shirley(wife) so I don’t know what she intends to do. Tell Elma hello for me. Tell dad I received his letter and be sure and let me know when he gets the other money order. I will close for now hoping this finds all of you in the best of health.
Your bro,
Wally
Although Wallace was Lost at Sea my grandfather, Sam Jeffers, Wallace Jeffers brother would never receive the insurance money. It would be transferred to Wallace Mac, Sam and Wallace Jeffers dad to receive all benefits from the Navy. After the loss of my grandfather brother, my grandfather and the rest of the Jeffers family struggled for a lifetime to accept the unknown on what happen to their family member. It impacted my grandfather till his passing in 2008.
Wallace was honored in VOICES OF THE LOST AT SEA program in 2018.
Click on VOICES OF THE LOST AT SEA to view from Time Stamp 10:07 - 11:54.
Click on Menu Option PHOTOS below to View Additional Photos!
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