The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Wednesday, July 17, 1943, Page 12

Pvt. Francis D. NUGENT has arrived safely in North Africa, according to word received by his wife who lives at 1804 Taft southwest. He entered the service in October, 1942, and was sent to Camp Hood, Tex. He was at Camp Pickett, VA., just before going across. He was employed at the Jacob E. Decker and Sons Packing company before he was in the army.

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Thursday, January 06, 1944, Page 5

Mrs. Betty M. NUGENT, 1804 Taft S. W., received a telegram Thursday from the secretary of war stating that her husband, Cpl. Francis D. NUGENT, had been missing in action in Italy since Dec. 15. The message signed by the adjutant general read:

"The secretary of war desires me to express his deep regret that your husband, Tech. 5th Grade Francis D. NUGENT, has been reported missing in action since Dec. 15 in Italy. If further details or other information are received you will be promptly notified."

Corporal NUGENT'S last letter received here was written on Dec. 14, the day before he was reported missing. In it he said that it "was really hot" there he "didn't mean the weather." Before going to Italy where he had been for about 4 months, he had been on duty in Africa and Sicily. He went over seas last May. As a civilian he was employed at the Jacob R. Decker & Sons plant.

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Tuesday, March 28, 1944, Page 7

Cpl. Francis D. NUGENT is a prisoner of war of the German government, according to a telegram received by his wife, 1539 Wilson S. W., from the war department.

"A report just received through the International Red Cross," read the telegram, "states that your husband, Tech. 5th Grade Francis D. NUGENT, is a prisoner of war of the German government. Letter of information follows from the provost marshal general."

Cpl. NUGENT was previously reported missing in action in Italy on Dec. 13, according to a telegram received by Mrs. NUGENT on Jan. 6. Nothing further had been heard of his whereabouts until the present information came. He has been overseas since last May. As a civilian he worked at the Jacob E. Decker plant.

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Friday, May 19, 1944, Page 3

Cpl. Francis NUGENT, 1804 Taft S. W., a prisoner of war in Germany since last December, 1 will be one of 3 Iowans who are scheduled to be repatriated aboard the exchange ship Gripsholm which is due in the United States early next month.

Mrs. Francis NUGENT, wife of Cpl. NUGENT, received a telegram from the war department Thursday night notifying her of her husband's name on the passenger list of the Gripsholm.

Cpl. NUGENT entered the service in October, 1942, and was sent to Camp Hood, Tex., and later to Camp Pickett, Va. He has been overseas since last May and was reported missing in action in Italy on Dec. 15. Later he was reported a prisoner of the German.

In civilian life Cpl. NUGENT was employed at Jacob E. Decker & Sons Packing company.

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Thursday, June 08, 1944, Page 9

Walter SMITH, steward 2/c, crew member of the diplomatic ship Gripsholm in a 3-minute telephone conversation from New York city Wednesday evening told his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard B. SMITH, 820 Polk N. W., that he had arrived on the exchange ship and that Cpl. Francis NUGENT, recent prisoner of war of the German government, was on the ship.

The Gripsholm arrived in New York Tuesday afternoon, according to SMITH. It had formerly been announced by the war department in a telegram to Mrs. NUGENT, 1804 Taft S. W., that her husband was being repatriated on the ship and would be in the states on the next arrival in June.

Steward SMITH in his telephone conversation said that he wished the friends and relatives of Cpl. NUGENT to know that the 2 had visited together in Barcelona, Spain, before setting out. Cpl. NUGENT had been a prisoner of the Germans since last December and was first reported missing in action in Italy on December 15.

This is the 4th trip on the exchange ship for Steward SMITH. He was here on a 2-day leave in April when the Gripsholm was in New York before starting out for this last exchange. SMITH wears a star for participation in a major engagement while serving on the ship.

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Wednesday, June 28, 1944, Page 16

Cpl. Francis NUGENT, exchange prisoner of war on the Gripsholm in its last visit to the United States, is now a patient at the Percy Jones hospital, Battle Creek, Mich. Cpl. NUGENT is being treated for a leg injury which he received during the 5 months he was a prisoner of war of the Germans. His left leg has been amputated below the knee.

Cpl. NUGENT is in good health now and expects to come home for a few weeks for a short furlough. He was visited last week by his wife, Betty, 1804 Taft S. W., his sister, Evelyn, and his brother, Raymond, all of Mason City. Cpl. NUGENT was able to spend 3 days of their visit away from the hospital.

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
September 25, 1944, Page 11

Cpl Francis D. NUGENT arrived Sunday from the Percy Jones general hospital, Battle Creek, Mich., where he has been a patient since being repatriated last June. He is visiting his wife at 1804 Taft. S. W., and other relatives here. He will return to the hospital at Battle Creek at the end of his 30-day furlough.

Cpl NUGENT was first reported as missing in action over Italy on last December 15. Later, in March, word was received that he had been taken a prisoner of war of the Germans on that date. After coming to the states aboard the Gripsholm [Swedish ship], he was taken to the hospital at Battle Creek. Relatives visiting him there then learned that his left leg had been amputated below the knee.

Before entering the service in October, 1942, Cpl. NUGENT was employed at Decker's. His sister, Evelyn, and a brother, Raymond, live in Mason City.

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Wednesday, October 23, 1946, Page 1

These 3 Mason City veterans (from left to right) Francis NUGENT, Hans BRACKLEIN and Don ZELLER, register at the city hall for the coming November elections. Clerks (left to right) Bea BRUNSVOLD, Mrs. Ruth SEEBERGER and Mrs. Newell HUGI instruct the young men. This will be the first election for BRACKLEIN, who was in the army, and ZELLER, who served in the army, as both were under 21 years of age when they left for service. NUGENT served 4 years and lost a leg while with the army in Italy. The deadline for registration is Saturday noon. (Globe-Gazette Photo)

~ ~ ~ ~

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
December 05, 1946, Page 7

DISABLED VET RECEIVES CAR

Francis NUGENT, army amputee, is shown at left above shaking hands with Jack ZENOR of the Zenor Motor company, in front of the new Oldsmobile, which he received Wednesday afternoon. The car was made available to NUGENT under the government program of providing cars for leg amputees. Saturday a similar car went to Francis HUGHES of Riceville from the Zenor establishment under the same program.

NOTE: Cpl. NUGENT was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel NUGENT. Daniel, a retired farmer, died November 24, 1941, and Mary died May 20, 1938. ~ Globe-Gazette, November 24, 1941

Francis D. NUGENT and Betty Jane MUHLSTEIN, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otto MUHLSTEIN, 1804 Taft Ave. S.W, Mason City, were married on June 6, 1942, at Unionville, Missouri. ~Globe-Gazette, June 17, 1942.

Transcriptions and notes by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2013