SSgt. Vessey was born in Oregon City, Oregon. He graduated from Oregon State College in 1943, while going to school he was the Sports Editor of the Barometer, and won a campus-wide softball competition in the Spring of 1942. While serving with the 1st Marine Battalion, 28th Marine Infantry, 5th Marine Division, SSgt. Vessey was a correspondent. He was apart of the initial assault on Mount Suribachi and within three hours of landing he had written his eye witness account of the beginning of the invasion. Two days after the invasion began he was struck by a mortar that hit the command center in which he was editing his final copy of his report. He was survived by his wife, son and parents.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3644258/ve
https://www.oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx71bm025#page/13/mo... (pg 13, 14)
https://www.oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx71bp09h#page/25/mo... (pg 25)
https://www.oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx719t230#page/15/mo... (pg 16)