Fjeseth's Fight
John Arnold Fjeseth was born on September 8, 1918 in Hendricks Township, Minnesota. He was the son of Christian and Bessie Fjeseth. Some of his relatives were part of the first settlers in Hendricks - Ole and Kjersti and their child Anna moved there from Allamakee Country, Iowa. John was baptized and confirmed by the Lutheran Rev. Edw. L. Erickson.
John's mother, Bessie, died when he was in his early teens. His father, Christian, was a painter and possibly a farmer as well. John only attended school until the 8th grade, when he started helping with the farm work instead. After his 14th birthday he lived at the Anne Hexem house and worked as a farm hand. He became engaged to Gina Hexem, the daughter of Anne Hexem.
Fjeseth went to Brookings, South Dakota to enlist into the army. His service number is 37280744. He was sent to Fort Snelling on June 7, 1942 as a part of Company D, 54th Infantry. Then he was sent immediately to Camp Wolters, Texas where he received four months of basic training. In early October of 1942, he departed for overseas and arrived in England. He spent 20 months training and attending school. He was ranked as a sergeant and transferred to Company E 175th Infantry, 29th Division. He was with this division on D-Day during which he was part of the invasion to take Omaha Beach. Only six days later John was killed at the age of 25. Buried in Insigny, France; Plot H Row 25 Grave 29, Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France. Fjeseth was awarded the Purple Heart.
Below is a copy of his obituary, which we found at the Brookings Public Library.
John's mother, Bessie, died when he was in his early teens. His father, Christian, was a painter and possibly a farmer as well. John only attended school until the 8th grade, when he started helping with the farm work instead. After his 14th birthday he lived at the Anne Hexem house and worked as a farm hand. He became engaged to Gina Hexem, the daughter of Anne Hexem.
Fjeseth went to Brookings, South Dakota to enlist into the army. His service number is 37280744. He was sent to Fort Snelling on June 7, 1942 as a part of Company D, 54th Infantry. Then he was sent immediately to Camp Wolters, Texas where he received four months of basic training. In early October of 1942, he departed for overseas and arrived in England. He spent 20 months training and attending school. He was ranked as a sergeant and transferred to Company E 175th Infantry, 29th Division. He was with this division on D-Day during which he was part of the invasion to take Omaha Beach. Only six days later John was killed at the age of 25. Buried in Insigny, France; Plot H Row 25 Grave 29, Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France. Fjeseth was awarded the Purple Heart.
Below is a copy of his obituary, which we found at the Brookings Public Library.
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