Service News
Cpl. Thomas Argall and friend, Sgt. Edward Brennan, were guests of the corporal’s mother, Mrs. Nellie Argall, 1030 Ansborough avenue, during short furloughs from Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., this week. Another son, Pvt. Albert Argall, who was wounded in France July 26, was reported recently to be “in good health and spirits” during his recovery, according to a letter to his mother from Chaplain Patrick Raftery.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, November 07, 1944, Page 3
One Waterloo Man Killed,
Two Missing
One Waterloo man previously reported missing was disclosed as killed in action and two others were added to the already long list of missing as war department messages continued to reach homes here Saturday.
Second Lt. Kenneth J. Herman, 23, previously reported missing over Germany Oct. 22, was disclosed by the International Red Cross as dead.
The mission are:
Flight Officer Milo N. Jensen, 25, since Jan. 4 while on a mission between British Guiana and Brazil.
T-5 Thomas P. Argall, infantryman, since Jan. 7 in France.
[Page 20] Word of T-5 Argall being missing came in a war department telegram received by his mother, Mrs. Nellie Argall, 1030 Ainsborough avenue.
T-5 Argall, who spent 30 months in the Aleutians before returning to the United States in January, 1944, went to France in December. He entered service in October, 1941.
His brother, T-5 Albert (Arnie) Argall, is now hospitalized in the Winter General hospital, Topeka, Kan., after being wounded in action July 28 in France. His mother and sister, Leona, recently returned home from visiting him. He has been awarded the Purple Heart.
[NOTE: Portions of this article regarding Lt. Herman and FLO Jensen have been omitted but may be found on their individual webpages within this site.]
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, January 28, 1944, Section 2, Pages 13 & 20
T. P. Argall Killed in France
Technician Fifth Grade Thomas P. Argall, 28, who was previously listed as missing in action, was killed Jan. 7 in France while serving with an infantry unit [359th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, U. S. Army], his mother, Mrs. Nellie M. Argall, 1030 Ansborough avenue was notified Thursday.
A letter from the captain of his unit informed her that he had been buried in Alsace-Lorraine, France, in an American cemetery.
T-5 Argall entered the service in the summer of 1941 and on October the same year went to the Aleutians where he served 30 months with an anti-aircraft unit.
He returned to the United States and after a 20-day furlough was transferred into an infantry unit and trained at Ft. Bliss, Tex., and Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., before going to the European theater of war in November, 1944.
Born Mar. 14, 1917 in Rochester, Minn., son of Wilfred and Nellie Argall, he moved to Fairbank, Ia., with his family when his father entered service in World war I. Upon the return of his father, the family moved to Waterloo 24 years ago. Argall attended Sacred Heart school.
Surviving, besides his mother, is one brother, Tech Fifth Grade Albert Argall, who is home now on a 21-day furlough after being wounded in action July 23 in France; also three sisters, Mr. Carl Graham, who also resides at 1030 Ansborough; Mrs. Nels Funk, visiting here from her home in Racine, Wis., and Lenora at home.
His father preceded him in death in 1934.
Memorial services will be at 7 a. m. Monday in St. John’s Catholic church, with Rev. Fr. N. J. Lentz, pastor, officiating.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, March 01, 1945, Page 25
Awarded Bronze Star Medal
Tech. 5th Gr. Thomas P. Argall, of the army, was awarded the Bronze Star medal posthumously, according to word received by his mother, Mrs. Nellie M. Argall, 1030 Ansbrough avenue, from the war department in Washington, D. C. The medal was awarded for heroic achievement in action on January 7, near Rothbach, France. Reconnonering for an ammunition route to the front lines, Technician Argall and three other soldiers from the ammunition and pioneer platoon discovered a squad of riflemen held up by enemy machine gun fire. Voluntarily maneuvering to destroy the positions, the encountered a platoon of enemy troops. They closed rapidly with the enemy, killing 25 and capturing eight. While withdrawing to friendly lines with the prisoners, Technician Argall was killed by enemy fire.
Mrs. Argall received the Purple Heart and also a citation signed by President Roosevelt on August 12, the day the president died.
Technician Argall entered service in the summer of 1941 and went to the European theater of war in November, 1944. He was educated at Sacred Heart Catholic school and was a member of St. John’s Catholic church. Before entering service he was employed at Waterloo Laundry Co. and Headford Bros. and Huchins Foundry Co.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, August 24, 1945, Page 25
Bronze Star Presented
The Bronze Star medal has been posthumously awarded to Tech. 5th Gr. Thomas P. Argall, killed in France Jan.7, 1945, while serving with an infantry unit, and was presented to his mother, Mr. Nellie M. Argall, 1030 Ansborough avenue, in the presence of ROTC troops, Thursday at Coe college, Cedar Rapids, Ia. Presentation was made by First Lt. Duane Gibbs of the state University of Iowa, Iowa City. Mrs. Argall, accompanied by relatives, was present for the ceremony.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Friday, November 16, 1945, Page 16
Argall Rites Friday;
Was War Victim
Funeral services will be Friday at 9:30 a. m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic church for Tech. 5th Gr. Thomas P. Argall, son of Mrs. Nellie Argall, 1030 Ansborough avenue, who was killed in action in France, Jan. 7, 1945.
His body is being returned to the Ray Hurley funeral home here Wednesday night from Alsace-Lorraine, France, where it was buried in an American military cemetery.
T-5 Argall entered service in 1941, served 30 months in the Aleutians, returned home for 20 days and was then assigned to an infantry unit and went to the European theater in November, 1944.
He was born Mar. 13, 1917, in Rochester, Minn., the son of Wilfred and Nellie Argall, and moved to Fairbank, Ia., with his family when his father entered World war I. Following the return of his father, the family moved to Waterloo.
Argall had attended Sacred Heart school.
Surviving are his mother; one brother, Arnie, 714 Hartman avenue; and three sisters, Mrs. carl Graham, also of 714 Hartman avenue, Mrs. Nels Funk, 1030 Ansborough avenue, and Mrs. Don Soteros, 1030 ½ Ansborough avenue.
His father preceded him in death in 1934.
Rev. Fr. Louis Putz, pastor at Blessed Sacrament, will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary cemetery. The American Legion will conduct military rites.
The body will remain at the Ray Hurley funeral home until the time of service.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, August 23, 1950, Page 8
