Jessen, Vernon F., 1926-

Vernon F. Jessen was born in Iowa on March 7, 1926 and enlisted in the Army on June 14, 1944 in Camp Dodge, Iowa. At the time of enlistment he was unmarried, had completed four years of high school, and working as a general office clerk. He joined the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Swift, Tex., where he was assigned to Company E of the 85th Infantry Regiment. During combat operations in Italy, Jessen was wounded in action at Mount Della Torraccia on February 22, 1945. He attained the rank of Private First Class and received a Bronze Star medal in 1999.