George Messner was born on February 3, 1922 to Solomon and Jennie Dinsdale Messner who lived in Morstein, Pennsylvania, outside of West Chester. George was one of three children. George later married Margaret Thompson.
George joined the Pennsylvania National Guard, Company I, 111th Infantry, and “West Chester's Own”. The Company was activated for Active Military Duty in 1940. He trained at various camps in the states; he was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Virginia in October 1943.