Benjamin Franklin Jennett, Jr.

Benjamin Franklin Jennett Jr., of Memphis, 90, died December 27, 2014. Ben was born March 29, 1924, in West Blocton, Alabama to Ben F. and Ann Louise Jennett. He is survived by a daughter, Martha Ann Jennett of Memphis, two stepsons, David H. Klyce (Doris) of Tupelo, MS, Joseph Michael Edwards (Ann) of Clyde, North Carolina, and a sister, Elizabeth Brannon, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Ben's loving wife of forty six years, Mary, passed away in 2002. Ben entered the Navy in May of 1941 and saw plenty of action in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, while attached to twelve different aircraft carriers. His first sea duty was aboard the USS Hornet (CV8). The Hornet, commissioned October 20, 1941} was still doing sea trials off Norfolk, VA. when war was declared. After going through the Panama Canal to the Pacific, the pace was fast and furious. Ben was serving on the flight deck of the Hornet assisting Doolittle's Raiders in making their initial attack on the Japanese homeland. The success of that raid boosted the morale of u.s. military forces at a critical time and prompted the Japanese to reduce the size of their Midway Fleet, which was instrumental in the u.s. victory at Midway. Ben was with the Hornet until the Japanese sunk her in the Battle of Santa Cruz on October 26, 1942, a year and six days after her commissioning. Ben made the "shakedown" cruise on the first nuclear carrier, the USS Enterprise (CV65), in 1962. He also made cruises on the Yorktown, the Saratoga, the Ranger, and others. Ben often said how much he loved carrier aviation. He thought it was one of the most efficient, well-coordinated operations in the Navy. Ben earned numerous awards and commendations during his military career. They included the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with eight battle stars, WW II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), Vietnam Gallantry Cross and the Vietnam Campaign medal, among others. Early in his career, while in the Night Development Squadron in Hawaii, Ben was introduced to golf. It became his lifelong ambition to play well. He did well and won a number of Navy and amateur tournaments. Upon his retirement from the Navy, he relinquished his amateur standing and began serving his apprenticeship in the PGA of America, at Ridgeway Country Club, in Memphis. Thus, began his second career. He became the Head Professional there in 1975 and served in that capacity until 1985. Ben continued to enjoy traveling, playing golf, reading, and teaching young people the game he loved so much, well into his second retirement. Ben is a life member of the PGA of America, as well as a life member of the local and national chapter of the Military Retired Officers Association of America. Ben was a member of Ridgeway Baptist Church. The family will receive friends on January 2, 2015, from noon until services begin at 2:00 p.m. at Memphis Funeral Home on Poplar Avenue. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Ben wanted to say thank you to all his friends for their prayers, cards, letters, phone calls and words of encouragement and he especially wanted his "Friday Night Card Group" to know that they were some of the best people he ever knew and he dearly loved them all. The family also wishes to thank the staffs of Amedisys Home Health, Crossroads Hospice, and Methodist Hospice House for their kindness, thoughtfulness, and superb care during this difficult time. Memorials may be made to Ridgeway Baptist Church, St. Jude Research Hospital, the American Cancer Society, or the charity of the donor's choice.