Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Tessar of Simi Valley, California was raised in Simi Valley and from the time he was a little boy, he dreamed of joining the Army and becoming, as he said it, "a Special Forces ranger with tattoos." He had a flat-top when flat-tops weren't fashionable. In almost 19 years of service to his country, he fulfilled his dreams. He was with the 101st Airborne Division and served in the Berlin Brigade and Desert Storm before joining the Special Forces. He served with the 10th Special Forces Group in Germany and Bosnia, the 96th Civil Affairs and at the JFK Special Warfare School as an instructor. In July 2004, he rejoined the Infantry that he loved. He looked forward to personally training soldiers and knew that they would be well-trained when he fought beside them in war. He was very brave and ready and willing to do anything for his country. He died with honor alongside his men. He was also a very dedicated and proud father to his three children, Jonathan Jr., Shanna and Mackenzie, and a supportive and loving husband to his wife, Nancy. Anyone who knew him knew how important his family was to him and he talked about them all the time. Jon was a very selfless person and would do anything to help anyone who needed it. He was known for his love of NASCAR and politics, and was always ready for a good debate with anyone who would oblige him. Jonathan was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Marcia Tessar. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his brother and sister-in-law William and Carla and their children, Brando, Kennedy and Dallas; brother and sister-in-law Steve and Marty Gallegos and their children, Joey and Nicole; aunt and uncle Tais and Arthur Chleborowitz; and uncle and aunt Joseph and Marian Tessar. He was 36.

Army
2nd Battalion
502nd Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division
Fort Campbell, Kentucky