Note: The following information was reader-contributed to Saucon Source.
A 1996 Saucon Valley High School graduate was recognized for his military service at a recent Lehigh Valley Phantoms game in Allentown. The recognition was part of the Phantoms’ ongoing Hometown Heroes initiative, which singles out local military heroes during games at the PPL Center.
Former Army Ranger and Saucon Valley graduate Jason Lesser was recognized for his military service at an Oct. 30 Lehigh Valley Phantoms ice hockey game in Allentown.
Sergeant Jason Lesser entered active duty in May 1999 as a U.S. Army Infantryman. After completing Basic Training, Infantry Training, Mortar School and Airborne School, he attended and graduated from the Ranger Indoctrination Program where he was selected to join the Special Operations community as a member of the elite 75th Ranger Regiment.
Lesser served as an Army Ranger for more than four years with 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment out of Fort Lewis, Wash. During that time he deployed to various locations in the U.S. and overseas for training, made over 30 parachute jumps and earned the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Jordanian Parachutist Badge and the Yemenese Parachutist Badge. In November 2000 he graduated from U.S. Army Ranger School and was awarded the coveted Ranger Tab.
Sgt. Jason Lesser in an Army Ranger photograph
After 9/11, Lesser deployed to Afghanistan twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the Combat Parachutist Badge. Additionally he was awarded two Army Commendation medals for his service as a Squad Leader and Non-Commissioned Officer on numerous combat operations, and for his actions and treatment of casualties after an IED attack.
Following graduation with High Honors from the University of North Dakota’s Aviation ATC program, Lesser returned to the Saucon Valley where he now lives with his wife and four children. He works as an air traffic controller at Teterboro Airport air traffic control tower.
Several of the contributed photos below were displayed on the Phantoms’ scoreboard during the Friday, Oct. 30 game. Ranger3 & 4 – Afghanistan villages, Ranger11 – Afghanistan fire base, Ranger1 – Jordan, Ranger6 – C-17 Globemaster preparing to jump/parachute, Ranger12 – Afghanistan looking at Pakistan, Ranger10- Jordan Desert.
Former Army Ranger and Saucon Valley graduate Jason Lesser was recognized for his military service at an Oct. 30 Lehigh Valley Phantoms ice hockey game in Allentown.
