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COMING HOME
ARMY RETURNS SOLDIER'S
BODY
S-Sgt. Gerald E. Melssen Killed in
France
The body of S-Sgt. Gerald E. Melssen, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Melssen, of 1389 Elm street, who was killed in
action Aug. 11, 1944, at Mortain, France, will arrive Monday night in
Dubuque. It will be taken to the Didesch funeral home, where
friends may call after 2 p.m. Tuesday and from where the funeral will be
held at 9 a.m. Wedneday to St. Mary's church. Burial will be in Mt.
Calvary cemetery. Military services will be conducted by members
of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreigh Wars.
Enlisted early
S-Sgt. Melssen was
among the first group of Dubuquers to enlist in the army the day after
Pearl Harbor, Dec. 8, 1941, and participated in action on D day on the
Normandy coast. He served with the army in its sweep across France, and
during that campaign was awarded the Purple Heart and a presidential
citation. He also angaged in the battles of St. Lo and Cherbourg.
He was born April 21,
1922, in Dickeyville, Wis., and came with his parents when a year old to
Dubuque.
Before entering service he attented three
terms at the citizens military camp at Ft. Des Moines, Ia., serving as a
cadet sergeant. After enlisting in the
army he received basic training at Camp
Wolters, Tex., and served one year with the western defense command on
the Pacific coast. Before going overseas in May 1944, he was stationed
for a time at Gainsville, Tex.
Senior High
Grad
He attented St. Mary's school, Loras academy
and Senior High school, graduating from the latter. He was a member of
St. Mary's church, the Holy Name society and a member of the Carpenters
union, local 678.
He was married March 8, 1944 to Lorraine
Kluck. Surviving besides his parents are two sisters, Mrs. Louis
(Marie) Schriver, of Brainerd, Minn., and Mrs. Leo (Helen) Welu, of
Dubuque; three brothers, Ray and Elmer Melssen, both of Dubuque, and
Joseph Melssen, serving with the navy in San Diego, Calif., and a number
of nieces, nephews, uncles and aunts.
[The Telegraph Herald,
Dubuque, April 3, 1949, page 28]
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