MERRILL SOLDIER,
REPORTED MISSING IS NAZI PRISONER
Merrill, Ia.—Special: Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Jessen of Merrill have received word from their son, Cpl. Merton Jessen, reported missing in action, that he is a prisoner of war of the Germans. They received a telegram from the War Department January 16 reporting that Cpl. Jessen was missing in action in Luxembourg since December 19. He wrote that he had not been wounded and asked that the Red Cross send him tobacco, socks and underclothing. He was a radio man with the 707th tank battalion of the First army. He entered the army in November, 1942, and was sent across in February, 1944.
Mr. and Mrs. Jessen have another son in service, Cpl. Donald M. Jessen, who is in the field artillery with the First army in Germany. He went into service in November, 1943, and went overseas in October, 1944. His wife and son, Richard, are living in Sioux City. He formerly was employed by the Chesterman Co.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, April 6, 1945
***Further Research:
Donald Melvin Jessen was born May 7, 1918 to Elmer G. and Louise M. Klink Jessen. He died Nov. 27, 2007 and is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
