Notes About N. E. Iowans in the Service
Gilbertsville – The Air Medal and one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster have been awarded to First Lieutenant Leo J. Nugent, of the army air forces, who is missing in action. The decorations were sent here to his father, Francis M. Nugent.
Lieutenant Nugent was inducted into the air forces Sept. 23, 1939, and served with the ground forces until August, 1942, when he entered cadet training and received his commission in May, 1943, a Luke field, Ariz. He went overseas in March, 1944, and was a fighter bomber pilot with the Ninth air force in France. A sister, First Lieutenant Mercedes Nugent, is an army nurse stationed at Camp Swift, Tex.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, May 30, 1945, Page 7
Lt. Leo Nugent of Gilbertville
Now Reported as Dead
Gilbertville, Ia. – Word has been received from the war department by Mr. and Mrs. Francis M. Nugent, Gilbertville, that an official determination has been made of the death of their son, First Lt. Leo J. Nugent, 25, who was previously listed as missing in action since Aug. 11, 1944, over France.
Lieutenant Nugent enlisted in the air force in September, 1939, received his pilot wings at Luke field, Ariz., May 25, 1943. He went overseas in March, 1944, and was awarded the Air Medal with one Silver Oak Leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. He made 64 missions during his overseas time of combat duty.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Nugent; two sisters, First Lt. Mercedes Nugent, stationed at Camp Swift, Tex., regional hospital nurse corps; and Patricia, at home; his maternal grandfather, John C. Kemp, who makes his home with the Nugents.
Lieutenant Nugent was a graduate of West high school, Waterloo, and was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic church here.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, September 13, 1945, Section Two, Page 21 (photo included)
Leo John Nugent is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Brittany American Cemetery, Montjoie, France and has a cenotaph in Saint Marys Cemetery, Gilbertville, IA.
Source: ancestry.com; abmc.gov
