On This Day, 14-MAY 2010, We Honor a Fallen Hero

Denis D. Kisseloff was born in the Philippines on 22-JUN 1964.  SGT. Kisseloff had lived in the Chicago area, where he attended and graduated from York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. 

He later lived in St. Charles Missouri.  His parents were Michael and Mila Kisseloff.  Denis had two children Serena and Alexandr.  He had a brother Richard and sister Maria.  Their mother died of an illness in 2008.  The children then lived with their grandparents in St. Charles County.  He began his military service with the Marine Corps in 1981, and then with the Marine Corps Reserves up until 1988.  

After the death of his wife, SGT. Kisseloff believed rejoining the military was the best way to provide for his family, so nineteen years after leaving the Marine Corps, SGT. Kisseloff joined the Missouri Army National Guard in 2007.  He served in the 1138th Engineer Company (SAPPER) in Farmington, MO, Headquarters Company 203rd Engineer Battalion in Joplin, MO and most recently with the 1141st Engineer Company (SAPPER), Kansas City, MO. He had served in Iraq from July 2007 until August 2008 with the 1138th. 

Denis D. Kisseloff was killed in action on 14-MAY 2010 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. He died of wounds at Forward Operating Base Shank in Afghanistan when insurgents attacked with a rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. Denis was participating on a “route clearance mission.” He was deployed as a Specialist and was posthumously promoted to rank of Sergeant.

SGT. Kisseloff was awarded a Purple Heart, Army Commendation medal, Army Good Conduct medal, National Defense Service medal, Afghanistan Campaign medal for his service and sacrifice.

Governor Nixon in honor of Kisseloff, ordered flags at all state buildings in St. Charles County be flown at half-staff on Saturday the day of his funeral.  His funeral was at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cottleville.  He was 45. After the funeral, scores of people came to pay their respects as Denis made his way to the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. 

Denis D. Kisseloff is honored and remembered at the St. Charles County Veterans Museum.

Please contact the St. Charles County Veterans Museum Oral History project at sccvetsmuseum@gmail.com or call 636-294-2657 for more information and lets’ talk. We want to hear from you because we know…Every Veteran has a story.