Robert E. Godfrey – 517th Signal Company
17th Airborne Division
Another Paratrooper who became a family friend was stationed at nearby Chiseldon Camp he was Bob Godfrey, who served with 517th Signal Company, 17th Airborne and was a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Div.
Bob came to visit my family one evening in a Jeep wearing full jump gear, including a knife in his boot, he said he would get shot if they found out, but he wanted to say goodbye to everyone at 24 Carr Street as they were going on operations. He was a lovely lad and a true gentleman we all thought a lot of him. (Val Dowson)
Bob sent this photo to my family the back reads ” I will always remember how kind you were to me”.
The Post-Journal: 1/26/1987: Bemus Point: Robert E.Godfrey, 64, of Box 197A, Driftwood, Bemus Point, died at 3:59 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 24. 1987) in WCA Hospital. He was born June 21, 1922, in Meadville, Pa., a son of the late Edward R. and Genevieve Hesch Godfrey, and moved to Jamestown at the age of 2. Godfrey was a graduate of Jamestown High School. During World War II, he served with the 517th Airborne Signal Company of the U. S. Army in France, Central Europe, and Germany. Following his discharge, he continued employment with Erie Railroad and Conrail, retiring in 1982, after 40 years of service. Godfrey was past president of Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, and later, was local chairman of Switchmen's Union of North America and served on the Board of Appeals as chairman of the United Transportation Union. He was a communicant of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Active in the Democratic Party, he served as a Jamestown committeeman, ward committeeman, and 5th Ward Councilman for two terms, and was chairman of Jamestown Safety Committee. Memberships include: Lakewood Memorial Post, American Legion; John W. Tiffany Post, VFW; Moose Lodge; and Lakewood Rod and Gun Club. He was active in 17th Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division Associations. Surviving are his wife, the former Meredith Johnson, whom he married July 2, 1943
