Charles Victor Dessez – Sergeant, United States Army

From a contemporary press report:

Victor Dessez, 81, a native Washingtonian who became a World War II hero and later owned Waterbury Liquors in Crownsville, died of congestive heart failure June 25, 2001, at a hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.

A former resident of Millersville, he moved to St. Petersburg in 1983 when he sold his 11-year-old business.

Charles Victor Dessez Jr., a graduate of the Massanutten Military Academy in  Woodstock, Virginia, joined the District National Guard and was called to active duty in the Army in February 1941.

In March 1944, while on Bougainville Island in the South Pacific, the young combat engineer was stationed near the front lines when he heard injured Allied soldiers screaming for help about 100 yards away.

Despite the rain of Japanese machine-gun fire and snipers, Mr. Dessez went by halftrack and on foot to rescue two Americans.

He was a recipient of the Silver Star and the Bronze Star.

After the war, he operated a filling station and sold insurance and real estate before starting the liquor store.

Survivors include his wife, Sarah Patane Dessez, whom he married in 1949, of St. Petersburg; a brother; and a sister.

DESSEZ, CHARLES “VICTOR,” of Tierra Verde, died Monday (June 25, 2001) at the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines. He was born in Washington, D.C. He was a sergeant and combat engineer in World War II and received the Silver Star for braving intense enemy fire to rescue two wounded soldiers. Survivors include his wife, Sarah; a sister, Lois Austin; and a brother, Norval. Beall Funeral Home, Bowie, Md.

DESSEZ, CHAS. ”VICTOR”

On June 25, 2001 of Tierra Verde, FL. Loving husband of Sarah Patane Dessez; brother of Lois Austin and Norval Dessez. Relatives and friends may all at the BEALL FUNERAL HOME, 6512 N.W. Crain Highway (Route 3 South) Bowie, MD. on Thursday July 5, 2001 from 6 to 8 P.M with funeral services at 8 P.M. Interment in Arlington National Cemetery Friday at 10 A.M. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Veterans Affairs Hospice, 10000 Bay Pines Boulevarld, Bay Pines, FL 33708.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard