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Personal info

Full name
KESSLER, Clarence Wilson
Date of birth
16 July 1914
Age
30
Place of birth
Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Washington, District of Columbia

Military service

Service number
33850379
Rank
Private First Class
Function
unknown
Unit
315th Infantry Regiment,
79th Infantry Division
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
19 January 1945
Place of death
Hatten, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Harvey L. Kessler (father)
Sallie (Newcomer) Kessler (mother)
Virginia R. Kessler (sister)
Helen M. Kessler (sister)
Harvey E. Kessler (brother)
Carl R. Kessler (brother)
Mary E. Kessler (sister)
Edward L. Kessler (brother)
Robert N. Kessler (brother)
Catherine L. Kessler (sister)
Ruth E. Kessler (sister)
Betty J. Kessler (sister)
Pearl E. Kessler (wife)
David L. Kessler (son)
Lillie M. Kessler (daughter)
John H. Kessler (son)

More information

Pfc Clarence W. Kessler was a maintenance painter before he enlisted at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland on 31 March 1944. He was sent overseas in September 1944.

On 19 January 1945, in Hatten, France, he and some other men had taken shelter in the basement of a house when it was hit by three enemy artillery shells and caught fire. The men were ordered to leave but once outside, he and another man noticed a wounded man had not made it out. They re-entered the building to assist the wounded man in his escape. Soon after re-entering, the building collapsed, killing everyone inside.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com - Donna M. Hunsicker (granddaughter), www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / 1940 Census, Combat History 79th Infantry Division, www.findagrave.com - Laura Kessler Hershey
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - R & S