John Mesko

John Mesko Lt. Col., USMC, Retired passed away on April 27, 2012 in Uvalde at the age of 95. He was born on August 29, 1916 in Eckley, PA. He married Loretta Lynch on May 27, 1942 in Midland, PA.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years children, Eric Joseph Mesko of Ferndale, MI Emil Louis Mesko and wife, Andrea Elaine Mesko nee: Brumana of Paso Robles, CA and her son, Robert A.H. Oxford and wife, Jennifer Lee Oxford nee: Coelho and their son, Christopher Brian Oxford John Jay Mesko and wife, Patricia E. Mesko nee: McDonald of Fort Gratiot, MI and their children, Matthew John Mesko, Captain, U.S. Army Special Forces and wife, Caroline Rim Mesko nee: Rim, and their son, Asher John Mesko Amy Elizabeth Pelletier nee: Mesko and husband, Craig Allen Pelletier and their daughters, Ava Elizabeth Pelletier and Evelyn Rose Pelletier Jeffrey Allen Mesko and fiance, Lisa Marie Lobbestael Michael Peter Mesko and wife, Paula Ruth Mesko nee: Gilbert of Austin, TX Francis John Mesko and wife, Mary Evelyn Mesko nee: Trejo of San Antonio and their children, Harrison John Mesko, Stephen Antonio Mesko and Frances Evelyn Mesko. He was preceded in death by a son, Mark Andrew Mesko.
John Mesko served his country faithfully for 30 years in the United States Marine Corps. He enlisted as a private in 1935 and promoted through the ranks retiring as a lieutenant colonel on Jan. 1, 1965. Because he was first an enlisted man, and then an officer, he was known as a Mustang.
During the 1930s, as a corporal, he served on the battleship USS Wyoming, BB32, as a gun captain on a 5inch gun battery.
At the beginning of World War II, as a first sergeant, he attended Officers Candidate School at Quantico, VA, graduating as a second lieutenant.
During World War II, as a first lieutenant, he served as executive officer of the Marine Detachment on the battleship USS Wisconsin BB64. He was a plank owner on the Wisconsin, and served on that ship for its entire World War II service.
He was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received aboard the Wisconsin during the Battle of Okinawa. During the Korean War he saw frontline combat service as a major. After retirement, he went to South Vietnam where he was a civilian weapons technical advisor.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM at the Mesko residence located at 280 CR 404 in Uvalde. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 4:00 PM at St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in Praha, TX.

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