Aubrey “Lynn” Lansford

Editor’s note: World War II officially ended Sept. 2, 1945, when the Japanese signed surrender terms. We’re honoring the war’s area veterans over the next several months with these brief profiles.

Date of birth: May 19, 1923

Dates of service: 1943 to 1946

Hometown: Clovis

Lives in: Clovis

Theater and location of service: European

Branch: Army

Rank: Technician, 5th grade

Unit and specialty: Infantry, Civil Censorship Division

In his words: Lansford walked into the draft board office to notify the board of a change of address and walked out a solider.

“I learned my new mailing address would be Fort McClelland, Alabama.”

The second of three sons in his family to serve in the war, Lansford found himself in the infantry as an unassigned replacement headed to Europe. He was surprised to be sent to an intelligence gathering unit when they arrived in England.

Part of a four-man team, he traveling throughout Europe recording German telephone conversations.

“We were all pretty much scared most of the time, but it wasn’t that bad” he said.

Lansford took a job a telephone company after his tour.

World War II profiles are compiled by CNJ staff writer Sharna Johnson. Contact her at 763-6991 or by e-mail:

[email protected]