Ben Jermann

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The Skamania County Pioneer, Stevenson, WA., April 27, 1979, page 1 Includes portrait, titled “Jermann as Fighter Pilot, 1944”

BEN JERMANN, WORLD WAR II FIGHTER PILOT, PASSES AT 62

Julius B. “Ben” Jermann of Stevenson, a World War II fighter pilot who suffered injuries in a crash landing in North Africa in early 1944, died at the Veterans Hospital in Vancouver Thursday, April 19, at the age of 62.

Lieutenant Jermann had been placed on disability retirement by the Air Force in 1946 after two years of hospitalization. Although he had enjoyed reasonably good health for many years and had been able to work at times, his condition worsened in recent months and he was hospitalized in February. His death was attributed in part to uremia and generalized arterio sclerosis.

Ben Jermann was born December 13, 1916, in Camas, the son of Julius A. and Josephine Jermann. His parents had been living in Hawaii and had returned to Camas prior to the birth of their son.

They moved to California while Ben was a baby but returned to Washington in 1924 and settled in Trout Lake. Ben grew up there. He graduated from the Vancouver High School.

Mr. Jermann worked for a time at the paper mill in Camas and prior to America's entry into World War II, enlisted in the National Guard and took his basic training at Fort Lewis.

He was enroute to Hawaii on a military transport when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941.

His ship turned back to the mainland. Jermann, then a corporal, volunteered for pilot training in the Air Corps and earned his wings at Luke Field, Arizona, he commissioned a second lieutenant in April, 1943. He was later promoted to first lieutenant.

Lieutenant Jermann arrived in North Africa in May, 1943, and flew P-38s and P-51s in combat. Among his missions was the bombing and strafing of German forces on Malta.

Following completion of a Malta run, he was returning to his base near Tunis when the landing gear of his P-51 malfunctioned. Jermann chose not to bail out and in an attempt to land the aircraft, suffered critical injuries.

After hospitalization in an English hospital in Algeria, he was returned to the states and underwent a long period of convalescence, first at a hospital in Spokane and later at Santa Ana, California.

It was in Santa Ana that he met Ann Smith. They were married October 5, 1946, and made their first home in Studio City, California. Ann was employed for a time at Eaton's Rancho restaurant in Studio City.

When the Jermanns came north to spend the Christmas holidays at the home of Ben's parents in Trout Lake, Ann fell in love with the area, and they decided to remain in the Northwest. They lived first in Vancouver where Ben was employed until 1951. When his father became ill, Ben took over his business in Trout Lake, remaining there until 1961 when they moved to Stevenson.

Mr. Jermann worked for a time as a logging truck driver but failing health forced him to curtail his activities. Meantime, Ann had purchased the Public Market and moved it to its new location in the Skamania Center under the name Ann’s Food Fair. Ben helped in the business and took pleasure in its success.

Mrs. Jermann is presently on the Board of Directors of United Grocers and the Jermanns enjoyed attending meetings and conventions of the association.

Besides his wife, Ann, Ben is survived by three sons, Jerry of Nespelem, Washington, and Tom and Stormy of Stevenson; a sister, Donna Knoll of Crabtree, Oregon; and two granddaughters, Angela of Stevenson, and Andrea of Seattle.

Memorial services were held Saturday, April 21, at Gardner’s Chapel in Stevenson with the Rev. Bill Collier officiating. Interment followed with military honors at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.

The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Diabetes Fund at the Columbia Gorge Bank.

The Skamania County Pioneer, Stevenson, WA., April 27, 1979, section 2, page 1== Biography ==

Obituary JULIUS JERMANN

Julius B. “Ben” Jermann; a former Trout Lake resident, died at the Veterans Hospital in Vancouver April 19 at the age of 62.

Lt. Jermann, Stevenson, served in World War II as a fighter pilot with the Air Force.

He was born Dec. 13, 1916, in Camas to Julius and Josephine Jermann.

The family moved to California and then returned to Washington in 1924 and settled in Trout Lake where Lt. Jermann grew up. He graduated from Vancouver High School.

Lt. Jermann worked for the paper mill in Camas before enlisting in the National Guard prior to the country’s entry into World War II as a corporal, he volunteered for pilot training in the Air Corps and earned his wings at Luke Field, Ariz, He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1943 and later promoted to first lieutenant. Lt. Jermann was sent to North Africa in May 1943 to fly various combat missions including a mission to Malta during which, on his return to base, he crash-landed suffering critical injuries.

After two years of hospitalization he was placed on disability retirement. He married Ann Smith Oct. 5, 1946, in Santa Ana, Calif. The couple later moved to Vancouver and then to Trout Lake to take over his father’s business when he became ill. In 1961 the Jermanns moved to Stevenson.

He also worked as a log truck driver, until his health forced him to quit and helped his wife with her business Ann’s Food Fair.

Survivors include his wife, sons, Jerry Jermann, Nespelem, and Tom Jermann and Stormy Jermann; both of Stevenson; one sister, Donna Knoll, Crabtree; Ore.; and two granddaughters.

Memorial services were conducted April 21 at Gardners’ Funeral Chapel in Stevenson with Rev. Bill Collier officiating. Interment followed with military honors at the Willamette National cemetery in Portland.

The family suggests memorial contributions may he made to the Diabetes Fund at Columbia Gorge Bank.

Sources

The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., May 10, 1979, page 18