Delmar Wesley Hesselgesser

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Delmar grew up in the Concord Township, OH area and was educated in public schools. In high school, he played the violin. After graduation, he took a course at Morris Business College, then went to Ohio Weslyan College where he graduated. He worked at Grimes Manufacturing Company, an aircraft lighting equipment plant.

He was drafted for two years during WWII. He took his basic training in Texas and in the summer of 1944 was sent to France as an infrantryman with the Keystone 28th Infantry Division. The invasion occurred in June and he arrived in Europe in September as a replacement to the troop, moving to the front in October. On 2 Nov, the company moved into battle. Del received shrapnel in his thumb and was sent to the 113rd General Hospital. By spring he was able to join up with the company again. Later he received the Purple Heart for this flesh wound. When the war ended, he was mustered out. He then went to barber school and worked at that trade. "Which nag came in first?" was a favorite question of his. He also worked for the Pennsylvania railroad for a time.

He began working for the U.S. Post Office first as a dispatcher, then a foot carrier in Urbana and retired from that work. In 1992 he developed sudden eye problems which developed into icyshemic optic neuropathy. He also had high blood pressure. Del is asprightly man, helpful and with a good sense of humor. He has worked as a volunteer at Mercy Hospital and his family say that he is like his mother in temperament and looks, alos resembling Harrison. Delmar and his wife Sarah are members of the United Methodist church and live in Dayton, Ohio.

References

Last data update: Sep 27, 2018.

Personal genealogical research information and notes provided by Nancy Lee (Hesselgesser) Sutton, Citation post date: 2009-05-30