Not much is known about John P. Sersha. It is known he was from St. Louis County, Minnesota and that he enlisted in the army on 26 October, 1943.

After training he was attached to Company F, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Unfortunately it is not known when he joined the Regiment.

Company F, 325th GIR, Private Sersha among its ranks, first saw battle when it landed near Nijmegen on 23 September 1944. Operation Market Garden had been launched on the 17th, but it took till the 23rd when the elements of the 325th were sent to Holland to join in the battle.

The 325th was inserted in the frontline south east of Nijmegen, in the forest-covered hills and valleys facing the Reichwald.

325th Glider Infantry Regiment

82nd Airborne Division

Between 27 and 30 September, the 325th was involved in the Battle for Kiekberg Forest. The area was full of steep hills and valleys. Opposing the 325th was the German 190th "Hammer" Infantry Division. Men of this division had infiltrated the forest and were building up in order to attack towards Nijmegen.

This build up hadn't gone unnoticed by the Americans, who were unable to penetrate the forest. To prevent the coming attack, the 325th was ordered to attack the forest and push the Germans from it. The attack was planned for 05.45 on 27 September. However, during the preparation, the Americans had to deal with a strong German counter-attack, which could be fought off with great difficulty. after an mortar and artillery barrage, the 2nd Battalion, 325th GIR went in on time.

Fox company, with Private Sersha, made the biggest advance into the forest. Although many German prisoners were taken in the early stages of the attack, German resistance quickly stiffened and soon the forest became impregnable. Fox company had to retreat because their flank was exposed because George Company could not advance along side and got stuck in the rim of the forest. Easy Company never made it into the woods and were forced to dig in at the tree line. 50 German prisoners were taken.

Private Sersha was MIA during the fighting in the Kiekberg forest. His body was never recovered.

The attack was resumed the next day, but stiff German resistance denied the airbornes control of the forest until 30 September.

Private John Sersha is commemorated at the Margraten Wall of the missing.

Margraten, The Netherlands

See Also:
Pvt James Alexander
Pvt Raymond H Dowd
Pfc Louis P Dunigan
SSgt Paul J Ebert
Sgt Harold H Fargher
Pvt Frank J Gentile
Pvt Paul N Mullen
Pvt Wayne C Owens
Pvt Leo Rakoff
Pfc Andrew S Sierzega
Pfc Raymond L Speck
Pfc George E Staten
Pvt Cecil S Steiner
Sgt Thomas B Youell

Other casualties of the 82nd Airborne Division

Sources:
Norbert de Groot, Als Sterren van de Hemel, Weesp: 1984
G. Thuring, F. van den Bergh, J. Bos, M. Cillessen, G. Franken, Roll Of Honor 82nd Airborne Division World War Two, Liberation Museum Groesbeek, Historical Edition No. 4, 1997
G. Thuring and Jan Heij, Vanished (Temp) Cemeteries, Liberation Museum Groesbeek, Historical Edition No. 1, 1989
American Battlefield Monuments Commission
National Archives AAD website

Directions to Margraten American Military Cemetery

Posted 28 April 2006

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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