Meet Gene Kessler, an army veteran who served his country honorably for over five decades. Being discharged from the service, Gene was excited to start a new chapter in his life. However, his dreams were quickly shattered when he fell victim to a scam that left him in financial ruin.

In October 2023, Gene was approached by an individual that claimed to be directly associated with Amazon and as an avid online shopper, Gene was thrilled to hear about an opportunity to invest in the company and potentially earn a high return on his investment.

The scammers used the trusted name of Amazon to lure Gene in and convince him to invest over $130,000 USD. Unfortunately, the individuals who phoned Mr. Kessler turned out to be a group of fraudsters and Gene lost all of his hard-earned money. As a direct result, Gene was left with mounting debt and barely able to pay monthly bills. As a disabled veteran, he relies on a fixed income and simply cannot afford to cover the losses from this scam.

Gene Kessler’s unwavering commitment to serving his country began at the young age of 17, when he joined the Army Reserves as a Transportation specialist in 1985. But his passion for protecting others only grew stronger as he made the decision to reclassify to Artillery in 1987 during his time in the Active Army. From there, Gene’s journey took him to Fort Bragg, where he served from 1987 to 1995, taking part in numerous missions and training exercises.

But it was in 1988 during a Show of Force Mission in Honduras that Gene truly understood the importance of his role as a soldier. He went on to participate in Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989, where he bravely executed a Combat Jump. And when the call came in 1990 for Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield, Gene was ready to serve his country in Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

However, Gene’s dedication to his duty did not come without personal sacrifices. In 2003, he was transferred to Fort Drum, New York and immediately deployed to Afghanistan for a year.

Other significant deployments included a 2005-2006 deployment from Fort Drum and a deployment from Fort Wainwright Alaska from 2008-2009.

Tragically, upon his return, Gene lost his beloved mother to cancer. But he remained strong, continuing to fulfill his duties while facing his own family’s battle with the disease when his wife was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2009. Despite this difficult time, Gene remained a selfless and devoted soldier.

In 2013, after many years of service, Gene retired from the Army at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. But his passion for serving his country and protecting his fellow soldiers could not be contained, as he continued working as the Ammunition Manager on the Division Staff. Gene’s unwavering dedication and selflessness are a true testament to his love for his country and his fellow soldiers.

Now, we ask that anyone reading this short bio of Gene’s excellence as well as his shortcomings due to a network of scam artists, find it within themselves to assist in recovering some of his losses.

Sidenote: according to the AARP, US Veterans are scammed at a rate of over $50 Million Dollars Each Year. A staggering amount, and a travesty for those who have helped preserve our freedom.