Arthur A. Tessier
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
TESSIER, Arthur A.
Arthur A.Tessier entered the Army on August 28th 1942, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Home at entry: Duluth, Minnesota.
Mr. Tessier served as a Corporal and rifleman with Company K of the 115th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division in Normandy (D-Day, June 6th 1944), Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
“The beach was a big hill and we were pinned down by land mines, gunfire and artillery. It took us a good part of the day to get over the hill. The Air Force and Navy did a good job bombing and shelling to help us get over the hill and drive the Germans back.
"By the time we got to St. Lo we had lost over half our men. The Germans were so well fortified in St. Lo we had to be pulled back a few days to get replacements to replace the dead and wounded. In the meantime, the air corps bombed the hell out of St. Lo.
"I was wounded twice...in one arm, both legs and a finger. About a month later I was hit by shrapnel from a hand grenade in the back and arm. I was captured, taken prisoner after taking a small town in Germany in September 1944. I was starved, beaten, and poisoned while in prison. I was liberated in Munich, Germany.”
CPL Tessier was wounded in action on June 19th 1944, and August 25th 1944.
He was awarded the following:
- Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
- Prisoner of War Medal,
- Good Conduct Medal,
- American Campaign Medal,
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze battle stars, -and-
- World War II Victory Medal.
Honorably discharged on November 30th 1950, at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 320.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (see below)
“The beach was a big hill and we were pinned down by land mines, gunfire and artillery. It took us a good part of the day to get over the hill. The Air Force and Navy did a good job bombing and shelling to help us get over the hill and drive the Germans back.
"By the time we got to St. Lo we had lost over half our men. The Germans were so well fortified in St. Lo we had to be pulled back a few days to get replacements to replace the dead and wounded. In the meantime, the air corps bombed the hell out of St. Lo.
"I was wounded twice...in one arm, both legs and a finger. About a month later I was hit by shrapnel from a hand grenade in the back and arm. I was captured, taken prisoner after taking a small town in Germany in September 1944. I was starved, beaten, and poisoned while in prison. I was liberated in Munich, Germany.”
Mr. Tessier was decorated with the following:
- Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster twice (wounded in action June 19th 1944, and August 25th 1944),
- Prisoner of War Medal (held as POW for 9 months),
- Good Conduct Medal,
- American Campaign Medal,
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze battle stars, -and-
- World War II Victory Medal.
He was honorably discharged on November 30th 1950, at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas.
