Memorial

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Pvt Virgil B. Whitesell enlisted in Fort Snelling, Minnesota on 25 August 1944.

He came to the U.S. in 1929, moving to Waterloo after a months stay at Vinton, Iowa. He was formerly employed by the Chamberlain Corporation and had been serving overseas since 1 January 1945. Pvt Whitesell had previously been reported missing in action.

Memories of Thomas A. Floyd, to be found in his biography 'A Walk in Time, 1944-1946':
"1st Sgt assigned us to a buddy already in a foxhole. Pfc Virgil Whitesell from Waterloo, Iowa was in one and I was put with him. Virgil spoke to me to jump in and I laid down my M-1 ready to jump in when all of a sudden three artillery rounds came in on us. I was standing on the side of the foxhole, then the next thing I remember I was being knocked down, my helmet flew off and I was covered with about 3 feet of dirt. I worked my way out of the dirt and ran to a road near by and jumped into the ditch beside the road for protection. The other two men who were with me were chased to the ditch also......The 1st Sgt came up to us, told us to follow him to the C.P. which was located in a small cave. I wanted to go back to see about Whitesell, but 1st Sgt said 'wait till daylight'. When it came we were told to move out, we were heading in deeper into Germany. I told the 1st Sgt I wasn't going without seeing about Whitesell and to get my M-1. I went back to the foxhole and there was Whitesell, with dirt up to his chin, with his head leaning forward, with the back of his head missing. I couldn't believe it. I was full of mixed emotions. Virgil and I had become good friends. We came to the unit about the same time. I admired him very much, for he knew what he wanted to be when he returned home after the war. He wanted to own a wrecking yard; he was into cars and enjoyed working on them."

It turned out that Pvt Whitesell was killed by friendly fire.