THOMAS WELDON "IKE" HALE, 21, was the son of Vergie
Mae Huckabay & Thomas Effert Hale, born Oct. 2, 1921,
in Lorenzo, TX. He was in the Ranger High School Class
of 1940 at Ranger, TX. With his mother's permission,
he joined the U.S. Army before he was of age. He was
a sergeant in Co. I, 142nd Infantry, 36th Division
when he was killed in action at Altaville, Italy on
Sept. 15, 1943 during WWII.
Thomas' mother, Mrs. Hale received a certificate dated
September 13, 1945, and signed by G.C. Boswell, stating
in part, "The Ranger Public Schools, his fellow students,
teachers and the citizens of this community hold in
reverent memory Thomas Weldon Hale who gave his life
for his country. May the great sacrifice he has made
help to promote perpetual peace and further the welfare
of our nation and the freedom and security of mankind.
He shall be remembered as long as time shall endure."
The Hales had rented a home in Ranger and before Thomas
left for overseas he told his mother that she was his
beneficiary if anything happened to him and that, if it
did, he hoped that she would take the money and buy her-
self a home of her own. She did just that and bought a
two-story house on Oak Street where she lived until after
Mr. Hale died in 1956. Interestingly enough, the house
still stands but was moved to Eastland, restored inside
and out, and is now home to Guardian Title Co.
Thomas had six siblings: a sister, Mable Morine who died
in 1913; there were four brothers, Joseph Twyman Hale
(RHS-1934), Albert Dealon Hale, Thomas Weldon Hale (RHS-
1940) and Leslie Udell Hale (RHS-1949); and a sister,
Linnie Aurelia Hale.