John C. Kessler Jr.

NAME: John C. Kessler Jr.

ASN: 20363390 / O-1290257

PLACE OF BIRTH: Stonewall Jackson Hospital, Lexington, VA

DATE OF BIRTH: 03 Jun 1921

DATES OF SERVICE: 03 Feb 1941 - 00 Jun 1952

UNIT ASSIGNED:

Virginia Army National Guard, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division

541st Parachute Infantry

A Company, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion

C Company, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion

504th Parachute Infantry

CAMPAIGNS: Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, Central Europe

AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Legion of Merit, Bronzze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart Medal with oak leaf cluster, Good Conduct Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead and five campaign stars, American Defense Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:

03 Jun 1921 - Born in Stonewall Jackson Hospital, Lexington, VA

Both of his parents were deaf mutes so he learned to speak and sign from his grandmother, then taught his two younger sisters (Ethel and Ruby) to speak and sign.

During the depression era his father made a living fixing up delapidated homes. They would move in while he worked on it then when complete they would have to move out to another home in need of repair. By the time he was 18 years old they had moved over 30 times living in Lexington, Lynchburg and Roanoke, VA.

00 ??? 1938 - Joined the Virginia Army National Guard - 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division

00 May 1940 - Graduated from Jefferson High School

03 Feb 1941 - 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division was Federalized

03 Feb 1941 - Enlisted at Roanoke, VA - NARA Enlistment Record.

Field Title	Value	Meaning
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER	20363390	20363390
NAME	KESSLER#JOHN#C##########	KESSLER#JOHN#C##########
RESIDENCE: STATE	33	VIRGINIA
RESIDENCE: COUNTY	159	ROANOKE
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT	3387	ROANOKE VIRGINIA
DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY	03	03
DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH	02	02
DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR	41	41
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION	CPL#	Corporal
GRADE: CODE	6	Corporal
BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION	INF	Infantry
BRANCH: CODE	10	Infantry
FIELD USE AS DESIRED	#	#
TERM OF ENLISTMENT	0	Undefined Code
LONGEVITY	###	###
SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL	7	National Guard
NATIVITY	33	VIRGINIA
YEAR OF BIRTH	21	21
RACE AND CITIZENSHIP	1	White, citizen
EDUCATION	3	3 years of high school
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION	002	Actors and actresses
MARITAL STATUS	6	Single, without dependents
COMPONENT OF THE ARMY	4	National Guard (Officers, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)
CARD NUMBER	#	#
BOX NUMBER	0342	0342
FILM REEL NUMBER	3.64#	3.64#

13 Feb 1941 - Moved with 116th Infnatry to Fort Meade, MD

?? ??? 1942 - Graduated from Officer Candidate School

?? ??? ???? - Volunteered for Paratroops

?? ??? ???? - Graduated from The Parachute School

?? ??? ???? - Graduated from Demolitions School

?? ??? 1944 - Sent overseas as a replacement officer

?? ??? 1944 - Joined the 509th PIB at Anzio, Italy

29 Dec 1944 - Bronze Star Medal Citation

For heroism while assigned to Company C, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, During as attack by Company C on prepared enemy positions south of Sadzot, Belgium, the enemy counter-attacked in force on the company's front and right flank. The friendly lines already being disorganized by its own attack, the men started a disorganized withdrawal to the rear. Lieutenant Kessler, in full view of the enemy and under fire from their small arms plus barrages from enemy Nebel-Werfer artillery and mortars, helped build a defensive line to repel the enemy counter-attack. He walked through his platoon positions during the fierce firefight, encouraging his men to hold their present positions and prepare to resume the offensive. When the order was given to resume the attack, he and his platoon leader were the first to rise and rush the enemy. First Lieutenant Kessler's actions brought great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

00 Jan 1945 - Wounded with frozen feet after falling through snow into a creek hidden below while persuing a German Tank. “That night, it got down to 13 degrees and the next morning I couldn’t move,” Kessler said. “They put me in a jeep to a hospital and it took seven weeks for me to thaw out until I could walk again. The doctor called me a lucky devil. He said if I had arrived six or seven hours later, he would have had to cut my feet off.”

01 May 1945 - Wounded with facial burns when blown off of tank

00 Oct 1945 - Served on 82nd Airborne Honor Guard for Eisenhower's visit in Berlin, Germany

John Kessler acquired a First Aid Kit from and aircraft prior to a jump click here to view First Aid Kit

?? ??? ???? - Married Nellie Anderson and has two sons

John worked for 30 plus years as a printer with the Roanoke Times.

He was a former member of Belmont Presbyterian Church where he served as a Sunday School Superintendent and a Deacon.

In more recent years he was a member of Shenandoah Baptist Church.

For many years he served as a very successful Sandlot Football Coach with the Williamson Road Recreation Club.

14 Jan 2020 - John Kessler Jr. passed away.

19 Jan 2020 - Funeral services were conducted at Simpson Funeral Home 5160 Peters Creek Road by Pastor Albin Crutchfield Interment was in the Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.

Lt. John Kessler newly commisioned Officer Candidate School Graduate

Lt. John Kessler with A Company, 509th PIB at Anzio, Italy March 1944

Lt. John Kessler displays the C Company 509th PIB Guideon in Southern France

1st Platoon, C Company 509th PIB in Belgium Jan 1945

Lt. John Kessler rides in St. Patricks Day Parade as Grand Marshall in Roanoke, VA

Lt. John Kessler at 29th ID Memorial event

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