SURVIVED JUMP
Lieutenant Lyle Nightingale of Omaha, husband of the former Helen Boylan of this city, came through the first stages of the assault on Sicily with only a few scratches, according to a v-mail letter received Monday morning by his wife. Lieutenant Nightingale, a member of the first paratroop division in the initial attacks on Sicily, writes that his jump was exciting even if it was extremely dangerous. The paratroopers were in the midst of anti-aircraft fire and machine gun attacks but no one was hit in the air. The lieutenant’s chute was hit twice by flak and had seven bullet holes in it when he hit the ground. The letter, written Aug. 2, stated he had seen all of Sicily but the dwindling corner now left in axis hands.
Lieutenant Nightingale has been in the army since May, 1942, and received his paratrooper wings last February. He was sent overseas last April.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, August 16, 1943
PURPLE HEART FOR ‘CHUTIST
Lt. Lyle Nightingale, 22, Given Posthumous Army Award.
Second Lt. Lyle Nightingale, who was killed Nov. 18 in Italy while fighting with the U. S. paratroopers, has been awarded posthumously the Purple Heart medal, his wife, the former Helen Boylan of this city, has been notified.
A letter received here from Secretary Henry L. Stimson of the war department stated the award had been made on the basis of wounds received and military merit.
Lieutenant Nightingale, 22, whose home was in Omaha, had been overseas since April, 1943, and took part in the Sicilian drive in July, coming through that campaign unscathed.
Lt. Nightingale served with the 504th Parachute Infantry 82nd Airborne and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. He had been overseas since April, 1943 and participated in the Sicilian drive in July. He was transferred to Italy from where he wrote on Nov. 15, three days before his death that he had been cited for meritorious service while on duty there.
No details concerning his death have as yet been received by Mrs. Nightingale. She was received, however, a letter from the chaplain, Captain Wuest, who said mass at the lieutenant’s grave in Italy.
Lieutenant Nightingale enlisted in May, 1942 from Omaha where he was in the insurance business. He was transferred shortly to the paratroop division and took special training at Fort Benning, Ga., receiving his commission Feb. 6, 1943.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Jan. 21, 1944
Lyle Nightingale was born June 8, 1921 to Otis and Katherine Potter. He died Nov. 18, 1943 and is buried in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy Plot: B Row: 14 Grave: 36.
Sources: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA
ancestry.com
World War II Memorial
