Wapello County

Thomas P. Spilman

 

IOWA’s HONOR ROLL

Here are more Iowans who have been killed in action. The final line beneath each picture gives the geographical location in which the man was killed. Additional Honor Roll pictures will be carried on future Sundays.

Source: The  Des Moines Register, Sunday, January 2, 1944  (photo included)

Thomas Punchard “Tommy” Spilman was born Nov. 16, 1919 to Thomas Punchard and Mildred A. Worthen Spilman. He died Feb. 11, 1942 (At Sea) and is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Taguig City, Philippines and at the USS Shark SS-174 Memorial, Muskogee, OK. 

Petty Officer Spilman served aboard the USS Shark (SS-174) and was MIA when the Japanese destroyer, Amatsukaze, made a direct hit with a depth charge during World War II. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Source: ancestry.com; oneternalpatrol