Avril B. Jensen Papers

Collection

Identifier: M2132

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection contains copy of Jensen's memoir: Avril B. Jensen Memoirs 1940-1945 U.S.A.C. Army Recovery (n.d.); Army service questionnaire (n.d.).

Dates

Unknown

Creator

Jensen, Avril B.,1913-2003. (Person)
Jensen, Avril B., 1913-2003 (Person)

Language of Materials

Material is in English unless otherwise noted.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The imply Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.

Biographical / Historical

Avril Benson Jensen was born in Cokeville, Wyoming on November 22, 1913 to James William and Nancy Evelyn Benson Jensen. He had two brothers and two sisters. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree from Utah State Agricultural College in 1940, Jensen enlisted in the Army in 1940 in Salt Lake City and was assigned to service at Fort Ord, California. In November 1941, Jensen volunteered for the fledgling 10th Mountain Division and began training at Fort Lewis, Washington. He continued his training with the 10th at Camp Hale, Colorado, and Camp Swift, Texas before being sent to Italy in 1945. Jensen earned a Silver Star for his service in combat on Mt. Terminale, Italy on March 3, 1945, and was wounded in action on March 31, 1945 on Sasso Baldino. He returned to the United States having attained the rank of Sergeant. Jensen worked for Utah Power and Light, the University of Utah, Vitro Chemical Company and, for 25 years, for the Hogle, Utah Zoo as an elephant trainer. Jensen married Iona Mae Davidson on June 8, 1951 in Sandy, Utah and the couple had seven children and 18 grandchildren. Jensen died on November 24, 2003 at the age of 90.