LINEBERRY, Pleas, was born on 20 April 1896 in the Little Beech Creek area of Wayne County, Tennessee. His parents were Jeff David (J.D.) and Mary Elizabeth HOWELL LINEBERRY. Pleas was one of seven children: five boys and two girls. Three of the boys served in World War I: Jasper Newt was in the medical corps and spent his time in various hospitals in the states. William H. and Pleas went “Across the waters” and fought in the trench warfare until the war ended at the 11th hour on the 11th day in the 11th month, 1918.

Pleas married Bertha May PIGG in April 1923. They had five sons: John Ralph, b. June 1924; Jeff David (named after his grandfather) in Feb 1927; twins Ray and Rex, born on 21 Oct 1932; and J. R. born 15 Nov 1937.

Three of their sons served in the army, all on active duty at the same time, between 1951 and 1952. Jeff spent seven-and-a-half years, most of it on occupation duty in Germany. He attained the rank of corporal. Ray had a tour of duty in Korea in 1952-53 with the famous 2nd Infantry Division, the same unit that his father served with during World War I. Ray was discharged as a Sergeant. The third son, Rex, spent 22 years in the army with two tours in Korea, two years in West Germany, and two one-year tours of duty in Vietnam. Rex retired in 1973 as a Master Sergeant.

Pleas had two things in common with Hitler: they were both in World War I; and they were born on 20 April. He used to get teased about this.

To carry on the LINEBERRY Military tradition, Mr. Pleas has two grandsons on active duty now [1991]. Terry Lynn LINEBERRY, son of Ray and Frankie LINEBERRY, is a Master Sergeant on duty with the Air Force in London, England; and Sergeant Rex LINEBERRY, son of Rex, is on duty in Fort Erwin, California. Rex Jr is married to a WAC from Kansas.