Alex Aesch, Jr.

Alex Aesch, Jr. of Gloversville was a Sergeant in the United States Army. He bravely served in combat in Europe during World War II as part of the “Greatest Generation” of Americans who saved our world from darkness.

Mr. Aesch courageously fought in the U.S. Army’s 95th Infantry Division as a member of the famed “Iron Men of Metz.” The “Iron Men of Metz” was the nickname for the 95th Infantry Division members who battled Nazi Germany in World War II to liberate and defend the French town of Metz in November 1944, through heavy and costly fighting, sometimes in brutal hand-to-hand combat.

During the War, Mr. Aesch saw fighting in France, Holland and Germany, and spent 133 days on the front lines along the Rhine Valley. Mr. Aesch was honorably discharged from the 378th Infantry Div. Co. 1 on November 22, 1945.

For his heroic and honorable service to our country during World War II, Mr. Aesch was awarded the Bronze Star, Combat Infantrymen Badge (1st Award), Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and Bronze Star Attachment, Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal.

Prior to enlisting in the Army in 1942, Mr. Aesch worked on his family’s dairy farm in Fulton County.

After the War, Mr. Aesch was employed by Mohasco of Amsterdam and retired from the Gloversville Department of Public Works.

He was married to Florence Firth, who passed away in 1963, and he later married Mary Snedecker Rathburn in 1974. Mr. Aesch had five children, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Born in 1922, he was the son of Alex and Marie Aesch. He passed away in 2017.