Soft launch: Soldier biographies and research notes vary in completeness. Prefer class-roster, NARA, newspapers, and other cited sources for contested facts — treat Research notes as leads, not settled history. Anyone can correct a page; contact us with questions.
Kessler, Ernest (32611173): Difference between revisions
Keep OCR citations in Sources sections only |
Correct Kessler birthplace and research notes |
||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
|class_number=4 | |class_number=4 | ||
|class_display=4 | |class_display=4 | ||
|birth_place=Vienna, Austria | |birth_place=Vienna, Austria | ||
|photo=4386134924741728.jpg | |photo=4386134924741728.jpg | ||
|rank_final=Technician Fifth Grade | |rank_final=Technician Fifth Grade | ||
| Line 35: | Line 35: | ||
== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||
* USHMM | * USHMM | ||
* | * The wartime record identifies Kessler as a technician fifth grade of the 29th Infantry Division on D-Day and through the capture of Saint-Lô. | ||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
Revision as of 03:48, 28 August 2026
| Ernest Kessler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1920 Vienna, Austria |
| Nativity | Austria |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 32611173 |
| Rank | Technician Fifth Grade |
| Rank at Ritchie | Corporal |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 4 (6 January – 6 March 1943) |
| Section | 4 |
| Enlisted | New York City, New York |
| Unit / division | 29th Infantry Division |
| Team | IPW 20 |
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Ernest Kessler (born 1920) was a Ritchie Boy (from Austria) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 4 and served with IPW Team 20. The record lists a final rank of Technician Fifth Grade.
Biography
Born in Vienna, Austria, Kessler fled to the United States, and later joined the US Army. His team served primarily with the 29th Infantry. Maybe there is someone out there from this picture taken in Bremen in 1945. He was sent for intelligence training to Camp Ritchie and studied in the 4th Class. He served with Regimental Headquarters of the 29th Infantry Division ,and participated in the D-Day invasion.
A wartime document identifies Kessler as a technician fifth grade of the 29th Infantry Division on D-Day, 6 June 1944, and records his service with the division through the capture of Saint-Lô on 18 July 1944.
Research notes
- USHMM
- The wartime record identifies Kessler as a technician fifth grade of the 29th Infantry Division on D-Day and through the capture of Saint-Lô.
Gallery
Technical record
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Nara ASN | 32611173 |
| Nara Name | KESSLER ERNEST |
| Nara State | 23 |
| Nara County | 61 |
| Nara POE | 2364 |
| Nara DOE | 291042 |
| Nara Grade Alpha | PVT |
| Nara Grade Code | 8 |
| Nara Branch Alpha | BI |
| Nara Branch Code | 0 |
| Branch | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| Nara Term or Enlistment | 5 |
| Term of enlistment | Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law |
| Defer. Date | 0 |
| Nara Source | 0 |
| Nara Nativity | N2 |
| Nara Year of Birth | 20 |
| Nara Race | J |
| Nara Race Description | White not yet a citizen |
| Nara Education | 4 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 992 |
| Nara Marital Status | 6 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 69 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 152 |
| Class_ASN | 32611173 |
| Class_Name | Kessler, Ernest |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Sources
- Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
- NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
- 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2018-05-14 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-07-21 (1 post)
- OCR-reviewed Facebook gallery document: 4386135078075046.jpg