Don Willis
Grandson Stephen Parks Willis In New Home
My interest in finding a vintage Jeep was to honor my namesake, Private Donald K Frye, who was KIA on Sept 23rd, 1944 near Delouarde, France. Uncle Don was allegedly a passenger in a Jeep, or driving a Jeep, when he was wounded and later died.
He was probably in an M38 because the CJ2A Jeeps came out after his death. When I found the Jeep that I later bought, I figured that the 1948 CJ2A was OK….it was made the year I was born.
My 1948 CJ2A was purchased from a Farmer near Bristol WI who had purchased a neighboring farm and the Jeep came with it.
When I bought it, it had a snow plow mounted on the front with a hydraulic ram to lower and raise the blade. The plow was super heavy so I took it off to remover the load from the front end.
We surmise that the Jeep was owned by the Air National Guard in Milwaukee and used to plow snow. You can see the MIL markings on her. It was suffering a lot of skin cancer’ from the snow and salt.
I am not trying to ‘restore’ Velma Jean …only preserve her. I had the engine and the transmission rebuilt and there is a bit of Bondo Hair; computer tower panels; BBQ grill parts; and plywood (underneath) keeping her together. As you know, hardwood 1 x 2″s were used to strengthen the frame.
Her name, Velma Jean, was created from my Uncle Don’s wife’s name, Velma , and the middle name of a dear friend from Birmingham who always wanted a Jeep…..Ms Betty Jean Gaines.
Velma Jean draws lots of attention when we take her out for a spin. Also, she is exhibited at MMVA and AUSA events and several parades each year.
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