Trenton Coleman

Trenton Coleman – Co-Founder, Treasurer, Historical Frontline Events & Co Director Operation Homecoming & Echoes of Valor

Born in 1993 in Paulding, Ohio, Trenton Coleman is the Co-Founder of Historical Frontline Events and serves as Co-Director of Operation Homecoming Wauseon Ohio & Echoes of Valor Auglaize Village Defiance Ohio. Raised in Antwerp, Ohio, with family ties to Lyons, Ohio, and Morenci, Michigan, Trenton’s roots run deep in the Northwest Ohio region. He has been an active member of the WWII reenacting community since 2020, portraying & Co-Running an American 506th Airborne unit, British 9th Airborne, and German Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS impressions. In addition to living history, Trenton is passionate about photographing reenactments to showcase and preserve the community that means so much to him.

Trenton’s family heritage traces back to the coalfields of Pike County, Kentucky, and West Virginia—descended from generations of coal miners, which fittingly influences his grandfathers surname, “Coleman.” His fascination with the 1940s began with playing Medal of Honor: Allied Assault on PC, but it was the influence of his grandparents, Agatha and Earl Coleman, that transformed that spark into a lifelong passion. Growing up, he spent many evenings in the sunroom listening to their stories—about FDR’s death, the end of World War II, and the assassination of JFK—mesmerized by how world events shaped their lives.

Earl Coleman was drafted during the Korean War and served in postwar Europe, working on the French docks of Saint-Nazaire. Agatha (Pauline) Coleman (Blankenship) not only shared stories but also nurtured Trenton’s love of history, gifting him family keepsakes because she believed in his deep appreciation for the past and the stories it carries. Among his most cherished possessions are her WWII ration booklet, his grandfather’s Korean War dog tags, and a photo of his great-uncle James Blankenship, who served in the 752nd Tank Battalion and was photographed at the Tower of Pisa at the end of WWII.

“You can’t tell my story without mentioning them,” Trenton says. “Their history is what fascinated me growing up.”

His first reenactment experience in 2020—riding in a halftrack, holding weapons steeped in history—left a lasting impression. But it also raised a question: Why didn’t Northwest Ohio have major WWII living history events? That curiosity led to action. With Jacob Kessler the founding of Historical Frontline Events, Trenton set out to change that.

Agatha (Pauline) Coleman (Blankenship)

Earl Coleman

James Blankenship - Agatha’s Brother

Jacob Kessler

Jacob Kessler – Co-Founder, President, Historical Frontline Events & Co-Director Operation Homecoming & Echoes of Valor

Born in 1994, Jacob Kessler is the Co-Founder and President of Historical Frontline Events and serves as Co-Director of both Operation Homecoming in Wauseon, Ohio, and Echoes of Valor at Auglaize Village in Defiance, Ohio. Raised in Fulton County, Jacob spent his early childhood attending school in Wauseon before transitioning to homeschooling and later completing his education at Evergreen High School and Four County Career Center, where he studied law enforcement. During high school, he served on student council, was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society, and graduated in 2012 as the outstanding senior in his class.

Jacob’s passion for service began at an early age. He participated in ride-alongs with the Wauseon Police Department as a Police Explorer and volunteered with the Fayette Fire Department. Later, he served with the Lyons Royalton Fire Department for nearly four years and briefly on the Fayette Police Department before health issues forced him to step away from first responder work.

Currently, Jacob works as a writer and photographer for The Village Reporter, where he’s spent over five years covering community stories and events. He also works independently as a photographer, driven by a deep appreciation for narrative, emotion, and historical authenticity. His lifelong passion for science and history, especially World War II, was nurtured by countless hours spent watching the History, Science, and Discovery Channels as a child. He remains captivated by the grit, unity, and sacrifice of the WWII generation, considering the 1940s a defining era in both American and world history.

Jacob’s introduction to WWII reenacting happened by chance. While driving through Defiance, he noticed a roadside sign advertising a WWII event at Auglaize Village. Curious and camera in hand, he attended, hoping to capture powerful images. There, during a conversation with a WWII veteran, he met Trenton Coleman. A shared moment involving an M1 Garand and a quick conversation about photography sparked a friendship that would soon lead to something greater.

After connecting and collaborating on photo shoots with other reenactors, Jacob proposed an idea, why not bring a WWII living history event to Fulton County? That spark of inspiration took root, eventually evolving into the inaugural Operation Homecoming in May 2025. Since then, Jacob and Trenton have co-directed both Operation Homecoming and Echoes of Valor, under the banner of Historical Frontline Events, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving history through immersive and educational reenactments.

Jacob & Renea Kessler

Family

Volunteer Fire Fighter

Wauseon