Thomas W. Wigle

Second Lieutenant Thomas W. Wigle was born 18 May 1909 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated from Northwestern High School in Detroit, Michigan, and attended Michigan State College in Lansing, Michigan, for two years. He was an adept violinist and was awarded a scholarship to study music in Salzburg, Austria, where he remained for eight months. He later taught music, became a concert violinist and played with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra. | Second Lieutenant Wigle, though of the Protestant faith, had a profound interest in all religions and devoted much of his time and thoughts to religious study. | In May of 1942, Lieutenant Wigle entered the Army at Detroit, Michigan, and was assigned to Camp Wolters, Texas, for his basic training. Upon completing his basic training he was enrolled in the Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning and graduated with Class Number 190 on 9 March 1943. Upon graduation he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant Infantry and assigned to Camp Wheeler, Georgia. Later he was transferred to Camp Blanding, Florida, where he successfully completed the highly intensified and rugged Ranger course and remained as an instructor in Ranger tactics. | In April 1944, he was placed on orders as a Replacement Officer to Italy, where he was assigned to Company K, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division. He was mortally wounded in combat on 14 September 1944 near Monte Frassino, Italy, while engaged in the heroic action for which he was awarded our nation’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor. Wigle died on 16 September 1944 as a result of his wounds.