Born the son of a successful Tulip farmer. At the outbreak of World War II in 1939 Visser was drafted into the Dutch army. Visser fought during the German invasion of the Netherlands in may 1940. As a conscript sergeant Vissser wa assigned to the Dutch Legion in United Kingdom. He volunteered in 1942 to be Radioman in No. 2 Dutch Troop, No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando. Along with other allied troops, Visser participated in his first battle in Operation Market Garden, when the unit was incorporated into 82nd Airborne Division. Two weeks later, Visser was reassigned to 101st Airborne Division and landed in Eindhoven. Despite heavy enemy fire, Visser managed to establish a connection with the resistance in Veghel. In the weeks that followed, he took part in the fierce battle in the region. Visser also made himself useful by capturing Germans who wanted to surrender.