| Notes |
Musician / Violinist
Music Teacher
Classical Violinist
for five years with the Kansas Symphony.
Came to Oroville
from Chicago to teach music under the auspices of Dr. and
Mrs Griggs, 1937 to 1941.
Service
Number O 1314729
Buried at Arlington
National Cemetery
Section 34 Site
3307
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| Mementos |
Medal of Honor Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of
life above and beyond the call of duty in the vicinity of
Monte Frassino, Italy. The 3d Platoon, in attempting to
seize a strongly fortified hill position protected by three
parallel high terraced stone walls, was twice thrown back
by the withering crossfire. Second Lt. Wigle, acting company
executive, observing that the platoon was without an officer,
volunteered to command it on the next attack. Leading his
men up the bare, rocky slopes through intense and concentrated
fire, he succeeded in reaching the first of the stone walls.
Having himself boosted to the top and perching there in
full view of the enemy, he drew and returned their fire
while his men helped each other up and over. Following the
same method, he successfully negotiated the second. Upon
reaching the top of the third wall, he faced three houses
which were the key point of the enemy defense. Ordering
his men to cover him, he made a dash through a hail of machine-pistol
fire to reach the nearest house. Firing his carbine as he
entered, he drove the enemy before him out of the back door
and into the second house. Following closely on the heels
of the foe, he drove them from this house to the third where
they took refuge in the cellar. When his men rejoined him,
they found him mortally wounded on the cellar stairs which
he had started to descend to force the surrender of the
enemy. His heroic action resulted in the capture of 36 German
soldiers and the seizure of the strongpoint.
News Article
Original Army Medal Of Honor Letter - War Department
[one PDF]
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4 [individual JPG pages]
Red Bulletin page 3
National
Jewish Welfare Card - Award
National Jewish Welfare
Card - Bureau of War Records
Record of
residence in Oroville
Images contributed by Thomas Wigle's granddaughter,
Susan Vankerschaever.
  
   
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