World War II Veteran Mario Mesa, Jr. with his wife Glenette and daughter, Laurie, at their home in Orlando, FL, August 28th, 2010.
LISTEN (19:28)
Mr. Mesa was born in Key West, FL and raised along the Florida seashore. At age 17 he joined the U.S. Navy and was in Casco Bay, Maine when World War II began. Veteran Mesa landed at Normandy on D-Day at Fox Green Beach with the 6th Beach Battalion. His two superior officers were killed in battle and Veteran Mesa took charge in their place. Veteran Mesa was at the International Dateline when WWII ended. He left the Navy in 1946 then joined the Reserves in 1950. He spent 38 years serving his country in the U.S. Navy and loved it! He retired as a Chief Boatswain’s Mate, BMC, USN.
Hear how he met his wife Glenette at Morrison’s Cafeteria on Central Blvd. in 1947, his love for flying, and his service to our community as an usher at St. James Cathedral for 50 years.
ABOVE: 1941 photo of Mario J. Mesa, Jr. serving in the U.S. Navy.
ABOVE: Mario Mesa, Jr. and Glenette Whitworth were married in Deland, Florida on June 4, 1947. They met at Morrison’s Cafeteria on Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando when Mr. Mesa stopped in with his father to get tea and Glenette was working the register. They often dated around Lake Eola as pictured in this 1947 photo of the couple in front of the flower garden at Lake Eola.
WATCH interview of Mario Mesa by Channel 9 regarding D-Day
WATCH video tribute to Mario Mesa’s military service
Mr. Mesa passed away on August 4, 2011 at 88 years of age. VIEW a tribute to Mr. Mesa.
ENJOY the images below under attachments and be sure to read the descriptions. Click on the first image to begin the slide show.
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WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - With His Wife, Glenette
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa with his wife Glenette at their home in Orlando, FL, August 28th 2010. Veteran Mesa holds his medals...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - Wife Glenette and Daughter Laurie
World War II Veteran Mario Mesa, Jr. with his wife Glenette and daughter, Laurie, at their home in Orlando, FL, August 28th,...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - Beach Battalion Patch
World War II Veteran Mario Mesa's 6th Beach Battalion patch. World War II Veteran Mario Mesa, Jr. was born in Key West, FL...
Myra Glenette Whitworth, April 1947
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WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - Navy Ship Crew
Photo of Mario Mesa, Jr. and crew serving on a U.S. Navy ship, circa WWII. World War II Veteran Mario Mesa, Jr....
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - 2002 Reunion
Photo of WWII Veteran Mario Mesa, Jr. at his 6th Beach Battalion Reunion in September 2002. Mario Mesa, Jr. was born in Key...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - Beach Battalion School
Beach Battalion School entry card.
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - Liberty Pass
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - Liberty Pass
Mario and Glenette Mesa in 1947
1947 photo of Mario and Glenette Mesa in Orlando. Mario met Glenette when he stopped in for tea with his dad at...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - 1941 U.S. Navy
1941 photo of Mario J. Mesa, Jr. serving in the U.S. Navy. World War II Veteran Mario Mesa, Jr. was born in Key...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - In the Phillipines
July 1945 photo of Mario Mesa, Jr. in Manila, Philippines serving in the U.S. Navy. World War II Veteran Mario Mesa, Jr. was...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - 1947 Orlando
Mario and Glenette - early 1947 in downtown Orlando
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa with his Navy Buddies
1944 photo of Mario Mesa, Jr. on break with his Navy buddies. Mesa is pictured second from the left. World War II Veteran Mario M...
WWII Veteran Mario J. Mesa, BMC
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Mario J. Mesa, Jr. Portrait
World War II Veteran Mario Mesa, Jr.
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - 2001 Presidential Unit Citation
Mario Mesa, Jr.'s copy of the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for Extraordinary Heroism to the 6th Naval Beach Battalion, June 5th, 2001. World...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa
Mario Mesa, Jr. and Glenette Whitworth were married in Deland, Florida on June 4, 1947. They met at Morrison's Cafeteria on Orange...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - 1985 Retirement Plaque
Photo of WWII Veteran Mario Mesa, Jr. at his retirement party in Orlando, FL, June, 1985. Mario Mesa, Jr. was born in Key...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - 1943 Training in Virginia
October 1943 photo of Mario Mesa, Jr. at training camp in Bradford, Virginia. Mesa is pictured second from the right in the...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - 1943 Amphibious Training
1943 photo of Mario Mesa, Jr. and crew conducting amphibious training on the water. Mesa is pictured first from the left in...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - 2003 Birthday
Photo of WWII Veteran Mario Mesa, Jr. with his family at his 80th birthday celebration Orlando, FL, August, 2003. World War II Veteran...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa
Inscription on the 6th Naval Beach Battalion plaque, unveiled June 6th, 2001 in Normandy, France: The officers and men of the 6th Naval...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - 2001 Letter from Bush
Mario Mesa, Jr.'s letter from President George W. Bush for the May 2001 dedication ceremony of the 6th Beach Battalion Memorial Plaque...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - 1950 Lake Eola
Photo of Mario Mesa, Jr. in front of the flower garden at Lake Eola, April, 1950. Mario Mesa, Jr. was born in Key...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - Mario and Glenette
Mario Mesa, Jr. and Glenette Whitworth were married in Deland, Florida on June 4, 1947. They met at Morrison's Cafeteria on Orange...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa
Photo of Mario Mesa, Jr. in April, 1947. Mario Mesa, Jr. was born in Key West, FL and raised along the Florida seashore....
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - 1985 Retirement
Photo of WWII Veteran Mario Mesa, Jr. with his family at his retirement party in Orlando, FL, June, 1985. Mario Mesa, Jr. was...
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa - Mario & Glenette 1947 Orlando
Mario and Glenette - early 1947 in downtown Orlando
Interview with World War II Veteran Mario Mesa, Jr. with his wife Glenette and daughter, Laurie, at their home in Orlando, FL, August 28th, 2010.
Mr. Mesa was born in Key West, FL and raised along the Florida seashore. At age 17 he joined the U.S. Navy and was in Casco Bay, Maine when World War II began. Veteran Mesa landed at Normandy on D-Day at Fox Green Beach with the 6th Beach Battalion. His two superior officers were killed in battle and Veteran Mesa took charge in their place. Veteran Mesa was at the International Dateline when WWII ended. He left the Navy in 1946 then joined the Reserves in 1950. He spent 38 years serving his country in the U.S. Navy and loved it! He retired as a Chief Boatswain's Mate, BSM, USN.
Hear how he met his wife Glenette at Morrison's Cafeteria on Orange Avenue in 1947, his love for flying a Stearman, and his service to our community as an usher for St. James Cathedral for 50 years.
Video of Mario Mesa Interview by Channel 9's Jane Wautrell June 1994 50th Anniversary of D-Day Invasion
WATCH Video of Mario MesaWWII Veteran Mario Mesa Video
WWII Veteran Mario Mesa Video
WATCH Video of Mario Mesa