Jesse Lloyd Colley

Jesse Lloyd Colley was born on February 28, 2017 in Mesa, Franklin County, Washington to Curtis Leroy Colley and Olivia Ragsdale Colley.  He had three older brothers, Ralph, born in 1911; Raymond, born in 1913; Marion, born in 1914; and one younger brother, Delbert, born in 1920. Colley's father was a farmer, and the family relocated to Kahlotus by 1930, where the younger Colley graduated from high school in 1935.

Colley attended Washington State College (WSC) from 1935 through 1937 as a Business Adminstration major.  He left school to work as a farmer in Connell, Washington.

Colley enlisted in the United States Army on April 24, 1942 as a Private. He was assigned to the 27th Infantry Regiment and sent to Guadalcanal. A January 1943 offensive was planned to remove the Japanese from the island and Colonel William A. McCulloch's 27th Infantry was to play a part. At first light on January 10, 1943, the 27th, led by the 1st and 3rd Battalions, faced difficult fighting conditions due to the topography of Guadalcanal as well as water shortages, in addition to an entrenched enemy. Colley was killed in action on January 12, 1943 during the 27th Infantry's attack on what would become known as Mitchell Ridge. 

Colley posthumously received the Purple Heart.  His remains were returned  home on March 4, 1948 for burial and he was laid to rest in the City View Cemetery in Pasco, Washington. The American Legion Post of Connell was named in his honor.