Lester F. Van Loon served is the U.S. Army during World War II in the 11th Armored Division Company A, 21st Armed Infantry BN Division, California. He entered on December 15, 1942 and was honorably discharged on January 6, 1946. He did basic training at Fort Leonard Wood-ASTP Pullman, Washington. He served in the European theater as a combat infantryman. Overseas in England, he crossed the English Channel, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and crossed Germany to Linz, Austria on May 8, 1945. In the Bastone Battle, his Company went from 250 to 50 men in 16 days. He was ranked Private First Class (PFC) and awarded the Bronze Heart.