John Joseph "Jerry" Lesanski was born in Mount Carmel, PA. Lesanski attended school until the 10th grade and began working as a Coal Miner prior to entering the Army. He had an older brother, Andy for which Jerry enlisted to save Andy from being drafted. Jerry was at Pearl Harbor when Japan attacked. Lesanski continued on to Europe fighting on the beaches of Normandy and at St. Lo France where he suffered a gun shot wound to his leg sending him to the hospital where he was for 13 months and met General Eisenhower. In addition to his time in combat he also served as a cook and received his drivers license driving the military jeep. He returned home to Mount Carmel, PA, married Marion Pupo, had a family and continued to run the family barber shop.