Private First Class Francis Andrew Messick 42105563 US Army. was born on November 26, 1925 in Elizabeth New Jersey. He was the son of Micheal Messick and Sue Klimko. He enlisted on January 31, 1944 at the age of 18.  He served in Combat with 2nd Platoon and 3rd Platoon, Company F, 253^rd Infantry Regiment, 63^rd Infantry Division.

On April 5, 1945, around 1600 hours Third Platoon made the attempt on a hill near Untergriesheim and was unable to take the hill due to the large amount of enemy artillery and mortar fire. Third Platoon suffered two casualties – Staff Sergeant Lyle Jacobitz and PFC Francis Messick – First platoon took the hill the next day before going to Buchhof Germany. 

Messick was wounded in action on April 5, 1945.  He was discharged from the US Army on May 3, 1946. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Purple Heart Medal, The American Theater of operations, the European Theater of Operations Medal ETO with 2 battle star, and the World War Two Victory Medal. He died on May 6, 1980 at the age of 54.

 

1- The Battle of Buchhof and Stein am Kocher

2- https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=42105563&bc=sd&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=8314737

3- the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

4- U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs Death File, 1850-2010