JEFFREY FRANCIS
Personal Life:
Born 1950,in Hillsdale County, Michigan. Jeffrey attended Camden-Frontier schools and graduated from Camden-Frontier High School in 1968. Since Jeffrey was 17 years old he had to wait to visit the County Courthouse Draft Board office. While waiting to register, Jeffrey began his career in the grocery business. Initially Jeffrey worked in Jonesville and returned there after his service to the United States of America as a soldier in Vietnam. Jeffrey spent 45 years in the grocery business and the majority of that was as the manager of the Market House.
In 1969 after his 18th birthday, Jeffrey registered with the draft and volunteered for the Army. Upon his return from Vietnam, Jeffrey met Connie Curtis I January of 1971 and shortly thereafter they were married. Jeffrey and Connie had three children Briana, Miranda, and Joshua. Jeffrey and Connie love being grandparents to their 8 grandchildren.
Military Life:
Jeffrey registered for the United States Army after his 18th birthday in 1969. He was sent to Ft Knox KY for basic training and then to Ft Polk Louisiana for Advanced Infantry Training. Jeffrey served in Vietnam with the 2 Battalion, 12th Infantry Division as a demolition expert and attained the rank of E4. While in Vietnam, Jeffrey served with his brother, Steve in the same unit for approximately 5 months. Jeffrey said the comradeship with the guys he served with is his favorite memory. Jeffrey is still in contact with some of them and Jeffrey attends the reunions in Gatlinburg Tennessee.
Awards and Decorations:
Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with V Device and First Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Marksmanship: Sharpshooter M-14 Rifle and M-60 Machinegun, Marksman withM-16, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal/First Class
Community and Service Organizations:
Post 53 American Legion Member
Hillsdale Exchange Club since the Mid 1980s Officer/Member
Chairperson Hillsdale Fly-In Breakfast 6 years
So Proudly We Hail Committee Chairperson
Cross Project Honors all veterans who died in any conflict. Crosses are displayed before and after Memorial Day and Veterans Day in Hillsdale and for two weeks in Jonesville at the Freedom Memorial.
Hillsdale Township Planning Commission Member
Hillsdale County Veterans Affairs Board Member