Mr. Roger L. Bessette, 83, of 1306 Forest Hills Drive, Aiken, and formerly of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, went home to be with God July 23, 2004, at his residence. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, July 28, 2004, at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, Aiken, SC, and a memorial Mass will be held in St. Johnsbury, VT, in early fall. Burial of the ashes will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery in St. Johnsbury, VT. There will be no formal visiting hours. Mr. Bessette was born in Brownington, Vermont, September 1, 1920. A decorated war veteran of WWII, serving in the U. S. Army in the South Pacific, he was a survivor of the sinking of the troop carrier USS President Coolidge off Guadalcanal. He received a Purple Heart for a wound sustained in battle in the Philippines, and a Bronze Star for valor behind enemy lines that saved his patrol and provided critical information regarding enemy positions. Mr. Bessette was known for telling war stories and for his ability to recall names, dates, and places in his war history. Mr. Bessette worked for St. Johnsbury Trucking Company in St. Johnsbury, VT, until his retirement in 1976. He was a life-long member of St. John the Evangelist Church in St. Johnsbury and recently of St. Mary Help of Christians in Aiken. Survivors include the love of his life, his wife Theresa LaRose Bessette, who awaited his return throughout the war, and to whom he wrote love letters by the light of the Philippine moon; a daughter Carol Zuccaro and husband Edward of St. Johnsbury, VT; four sons: Bernard J. Bessette and wife Ann of Aiken, SC; Ronald Bessette and wife Sherry of Lewiston, ME; Dennis Bessette and wife Bernadette of West Burke, VT; and Jeffrey Bessette of Greenville, SC. He was predeceased by a son, Reginald Bessette in 1980. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren: James Zuccaro, a Catholic Seminarian at Mount Saint Mary?s in Emmitsburg, MD, Gina and husband Capt. Wyeth Towle, Andrea and husband Jasen Clutts, Karen Bessette and fiance Jay Henderson, Joseph Bessette and wife Jessica, Theresa Bessette, Pastor Bryan and wife Hannah Bessette, Penny and husband JoshYoung, Nicholas and wife Jennifer Bessette, Shawna Bessette, Dylan Bessette, Elizabeth Bessette, Sarah Bessette, and Ilia Bessette; 3 great-grandchildren: Ethan, Noah, and Caleb, and Tyler on the way. Mr. Bessette loved all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and wanted it known that he was especially proud that his first-born grandson, James, is studying to be a Catholic priest. Mr. Bessette was the oldest of 9 children and leaves 2 sisters, Rita Miller of Lompoc, CA, Louise Ivey of Fortuna, CA, a brother Leo Bessette and wife, Janet of Eureka, CA, a brother-in-law, Chandler Nelson, of Ewing, NJ, a sister-in-law, Barbara Bessette, of St. Johnsbury,VT, and many nieces and nephews. The family requests that no flowers be sent, but memorial contributions may be made to the Good Shepherd Foundation, P. O. Box 146, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.