The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SGT Kenneth M. Mesel, RA12285673, who died in the service of his country on November 26th, 1950 in North Korea. The cause of death was listed as Captured-Died POW. At the time of his death Kenneth was 23 years of age. He was from Chautauqua County, New York. Kenneth's Military Occupation Specialty was 2745-Light Weapons Infantry Leader.

The decorations earned by SGT Kenneth M. Mesel include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Korea Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

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Sergeant First Class Mesel was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was taken Prisoner of War while fighting the enemy in North Korea on November 26, 1950 and died while a prisoner on January 18, 1951. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. Sergeant First Class Mesel was awarded the Combat Infantrymans Badge, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

The first Chinese action against the 35th Infantry occurred at 3:45 a.m. 26 November when a Chinese patrol of about 15 soldiers crept upon a mortar outpost of Love Company, surprised it and took four prisoners. They also killed one American and wounded two others. Apparently this patrol had the specific mission of capturing prisoners for intelligence purposes. There was no enemy attack, however, following this enemy patrol action.
(Appleman, "Disaster In Korea", pp 132)

Born: New York

Parents: Ernest B Mesel (New York) and Gertrude V Mesel (Sweden)

1930 Residence: Cherry Creek, Chautauqua, New York