Tindall, Pfc. Alan J. 1919-1945

TINDALL, GREBNER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/5/2008 at 19:51:03

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
March 16, 1945

PARENTS NOTIFIED ALAN TINDALL DIED IN ACTION IN ITALY
One Of The First Men To Enter The Service From County

Mr. and Mrs. Adam Tindall of Johnson township were notified Monday that their son, Pfc. Alan Tindall, had been killed in action in Italy. The message gave no further particulars and it may be some time before they receive any.

Alan Tindall was born August 20, 1919, in Johnson township and lived on the home farm until February 17, 1941, when he responded to the first draft call in Plymouth County in this war. During midsummer of 1943, he was discharged because he was needed to help on the 480 acre home farm and continued there until a year ago when he re-enlisted and last October went with infantry replacements to Europe.

Alan Tindall attended Akron high school where he was prominent in athletics. While training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was a member of the first football team at the post. His last visit home was last October just before he left for overseas.

Besides his parents, he is survived by a twin brother, Adam, and two sisters, Grace and Phyllis, and his grandfather, J. G. Grebner of Merrill.

Alan was a member of the United Brethren church at Adaville and was secretary of the Sunday school for several years before he entered military service.
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Pay Last Respects to Alan J. Tindall, Killed By Grenade

Akron Register-Tribune: There was a large attendance of relatives and friends at the memorial services held at the Adaville United Brethren Church Sunday afternoon at 3:00 o’clock in honor of Pfc. Alan C. Tindall, of Johnson township, who was killed in action February 21, 1945, while serving with the U.S. Mountain infantry in Italy. They memorial sermon was delivered by the pastor, Rev. L.B. Foster, who paid a splendid tribute to the life, character, and patriotism of the departed soldier. Two musical selections, “Haven of Rest” and “Crossing the Bar” were sung by a ladies’ quartet, comprised of Mrs. Arthur Netley, Mrs. L.B. Foster, Mrs. Wm. Phillips, and Mrs. Ruth Kenny. The Legion and Auxiliary attended in a body, also the Akron High School graduating Class of 1938 of which Alan was a member. H.J. Behmer, of Hoschler Post, American Legion, Akron, presented the American flag to Mrs. Tindall. Mr. Behmer also sounded taps to close the service. During the course of his sermon, Rev. Foster read the following letter from Capt. Chas. W. Gordon, chaplain of Pfc. Tindall’s regiment in Italy, to his mother, Mrs. Lizzie Tindall:

Dear Mrs. Tindall:
Word has already reached you through the war department of the death of your son, Pfc. Alan C. Tindall, in the service of his country. We of his regiment cannot contend that words alone will convey the depths of our sincere sympathy and sorrow in his loss, and yet without them we grope for expression. The realization that he is gone lies painfully in the hearts of his fellow men, and it is difficult to alter our thoughts to the true meaning of this tragic fact. Perhaps this is so since our faith in God reassures us that we will be together again in his Great Kingdom.

Alan met his death at the front in northern Italy while faithfully performing his duty. He was a rifleman, in his foxhole resisting an enemy attack and was instantly killed by a grenade. I am sure you will receive consolation from knowing he died bravely and not in vain.

You can be justly proud of your son’s courage and devotion to duty in the face of grave danger and in his willingness to carry on to the very end. In giving his life, Alan made the highest possible sacrifice for his country and fellow soldiers. No one can do more. He was buried with fitting religious services and full military honors in an American military cemetery in northern Italy.

God alone can understand and help us at such a time as this. May He be with you in these days of trial.

In sympathy, Chas. W. Gordon, Chaplain (Capt.) U.S.A.
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LeMars Globe-Post, March 19, 1945

PVT. ALAN TINDALL KILLED IN ACTION ON ITALIAN FRONT

The news came to Mr. and Mrs. Adam Tindall, southeast of Akron, in a message from the War Department in Washington D.C., Monday, to the effect that their son, Pvt. Alan J. Tindall, had been killed in action on the war front in Italy on February 21, 1945. Pvt. Tindall was serving there in the U. S. Mountain Troops Infantry.

He had received his preliminary military training at Camp Hood, Texas, going overseas only a few months ago. He first entered the armed service in the late summer of 1942, and was then stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Alan had lived in the Akron vicinity all his life, was a graduate of Akron high school, and had assisted his parents on the farm.

Besides his parents, he is survived by a twin brother, Adam Jr., and two sisters, Grace and Phyllis Tindall.
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Body of Pfc. Alan Tindall To Be Buried Friday At Adaville

The body of Pfc. Alan J. Tindall, who was killed in action in Italy, will arrive in Akron, Friday, November 26, and funeral services will be held that afternoon at 2 o’clock at Adaville church with Rev. Virgil Shickell officiating and Akron American Legion in charge of the military burial.

Alan Tindall was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Tindall of Johnson township. He was born August 20, 1919, and lived on the home farm until February 17, 1941, when he responded to the first draft call in Plymouth County of this war. During midsummer of 1943, he was discharged because he was needed to help on the 480 acre home farm and continued there until a year later when he re-enlisted and went with the infantry replacements to Europe.

Alan Tindall attended Akron high school where he was prominent in athletics. While training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was a member of the first football team at that post.

He is survived by his parents, a twin brother, Adam, and two sisters, Mrs. Will Feuerhelm and Mrs. Claire Allen, all of Johnson township.

Alan was a member of the United Brethren Church at Adaville and was secretary of the Sunday School for several years before he entered military service.

Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, November 26, 1948
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~Family Note: Alan was first buried near Florence, Italy, and in 1948 his body was returned to the United States and he is buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Adaville, Iowa.

Plymouth Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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