June 4, 1925 - April 11, 1945

Sergeant James Herbert Ressler, U.S. Army Air Forces [June 4, 1925 – April 11, 1945] was born to Ira Ambrose Ressler [January 25, 1879 – June 30, 1976] and Hazel Hannah (Scott) Ressler [December 31, 1892 – April 19, 1992] at Palacios, Matagorda County, Texas.  His parents were married at Broken Bow, Nebraska on October 30, 1912. James attended Palacios schools and graduated from Palacios High School in 1942, and he joined the U.S. Army Air Forces.  After boot camp, he was next assigned to Mechanics School at Keesler Field, Biloxi, MS, then assignment to Westover Field, Massachusetts, in 1943.  On July 8, 1943 he married Miss Katherine Jean Dodd in Palacios, Texas.  They celebrated the birth of a son, Kerry James Ressler on January 26, 1945.  Sergeant Ressler’s military career was abruptly cut short on April 11, 1945 when the aircraft he was on encountered a major storm off the Army Air Field at Charleston, South Carolina and crashed at sea.  After an extensive search no survivors were found.  At the time of his death he was survived by his wife Katherine and young son Kerry James; his parents Ira and Hazel; his brothers CCM Joseph “Joe” Ressler U.S. Navy in the Pacific and Sergeant John R. Ressler, U.S. Army in Europe; and his sister Margaret who was living at home.  On March 2, 1946 Katherine married James brother Joseph “Joe”  at the First Baptist Church in Bay City.
 

KEESLER FIELD, Biloxi Miss., Mar. 18--Pvt. James Herbert Ressler, Star Route, Palacios, Texas, has been rewarded for his excellent marks on Army mechanical aptitude tests with enrollment in Keesler Field's B-24 Liberator bomber mechanics school.

Private Ressler will undergo a rigid and comprehensive 17-week course at this training unit of the Army Air Forces Training Command. He then will be qualified for active duty with one of the AAF's B-24 units, or will attend a factory or gunnery school.

The Keesler Field airplane mechanics course includes instruction in B-24 fundamentals, structures, fuel and electrical systems, propellers, instruments, hydraulic systems, engine operation and airplane inspection.


 

JAMES H. RESSLER REPORTED MISSING ON PATROL FLIGHT
DURING ATLANTIC STORM

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Ressler Was Mechanic on B-24

Sgt. James H. Ressler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Ressler, mechanic on a B-24, is reported missing on a training flight over the Atlantic, off the Army Air Field of Charleston, S.C., as of April 11th, when struck by a storm. Up to this time there is no certain information as to what became of his ship and the crew aboard.

His wife, Mrs. Katherine Dodd Ressler, and little son, Kerry James, had recently gone to Charleston to be with him. Mrs. D. O. Dodd of Bay City left immediately for Charleston to be with her daughter during the days of search for the ship.

Mr. and Mrs. Ressler have two other sons in the service, Joe A. Ressler, CCM, in the Pacific, and Sgt. John R. Ressler, in Europe.        

 

Hazel Ressler

Funeral services for Hazel Ressler, 99, of Palacios are scheduled for 10 a. m. Wednesday at the Palacios Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. H. A. Whitfield officiating. Burial is set to follow at Palacios Cemetery.

Hazel Ressler was born Dec. 31, 1892, in Custer County, Neb., to J. W. Scott and Julia Smith, and died April 19, 1992, at her residence.

She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church and was a resident of the Palacios area since 1918.

She is survived by her daughter, Margaret Gaines of Seadrift; two sons John Ressler of Palacios and Joe A. Ressler of Van Horn; nine grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Her grandsons and grandsons-in-law will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Sanders, Gus Franzen, Bernard Jensen, Burt Johnson and Leland Jacob.

Arrangements are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in Palacios.

The Daily Tribune, April, 1992
 

IRA A. RESSLER

Funeral services for Ira A. Ressler, one of Palacios' oldest citizens, were held at 3 p.m. Friday, July 2, in the Palacios Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. H. A. Whitfield and Rev. J. R. Gwin officiating. Interment was in the Palacios Cemetery.

Son of Johnathon H. and Rose Ann Bickley Ressler, he was born in Waterloo, Iowa on January 25, 1879. A retired carpenter, he had been a resident of Palacios for many years. He was a charter member of Trinity Baptist Church where he had served as a deacon, trustee and Sunday School teacher. He passed away Wednesday, June 30, in a Victoria hospital at the age of 97 years, 5 months and 5 days.

He is survived by his wife, Hazel H. Ressler of Palacios; one daughter, Mrs. Margaret Gaines of Port Lavaca; two sons, Joe A. Ressler of Aransas Pass and John R. Ressler of Palacios; nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

The Palacios Beacon, July 8, 1976
 

Ira Ressler, A Long-Time Palacian Dies

Palacios bade farewell to one of its long-time citizens, Ira Ambrose Ressler, 97, who died June 30, in DeTar Hospital in Victoria after several months illness.

He was buried in the Palacios Cemetery.

Services were conducted by Holley A. Whitfield of the Trinity Baptist Church where Ira was a Deacon and a Charter member, assisting him was the present Pastor, J. R. Gwin.

Pall Bearers were Winfred Johnson, Joe Tanner, Gus Franzen, Eddie Huffman, Bernard Jensen, Calvin Huddleston--Honorary Bearers were Charles Luther, Ward Cook, Maynard Frankson, Arnold Burton.

Ira was born Jan. 25, 1879, in Waterloo, Iowa. He first came to Texas in Francitas in 1910 and stayed to help build Francitas. He met his wife, Hazel Scott, of Broken Bow, Nebraska, in Francitas. Hazel returned to Nebraska due to the death of her Mother. Ira went back to Nebraska where he and Hazel were married Oct. 30th, 1912.

In Jan. 1913 they returned to Francitas only to return to Nebraska in Aug. 1914 due to ill health of Ira's parents.

In Nov, 1917 they returned to Texas and this time to Palacios, residing here ever since.

Surviving Ira are his wife, Hazel, one daughter, Margaret Gaines of Pt. Lavava, two sons, Joe A. Ressler of Aransas Pass, John R. Ressler of Palacios, five grandsons, Joe Gaines in U. S. Air Force in England, Lanny Gaines of Seadrift, Tex., Kerry Ressler of Jackson, Miss., Donald R. Ressler of Corpus Christi and Herbert E. Ressler of Palacios., four Granddaughters, Dr. Rose Das of London, England, Robin Mayes of Dallas, Ann Gaines of Port Lavaca, and Suzanne Ressler of Palacios, Tex. and 5 Great Grandchildren.

The Daily Tribune, July 15, 1976
 

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