Marine Corps Reserve

Vessey, William Thomas

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.