Two blue, One gold

With 3 blue stars, it is surely a tragedy when one turns gold. This nightmare, that every mother has, happened to Mary Ann Jaquest. Their home in Waukesha, on 135 S. James St, was like any other home, unassuming and patriotic. With 2 blue stars they were doing their duty. Their other son Thomas was working at Diamond T Motor - they all contributed. This home, where such dedication was, no one could ask it for more. Yet, Thomas was called to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Thomas J. Jaquest, one of her children, went to war as did his siblings. William, who would go to the Pacific, sailing the same month, would never see his brother again. Nor would Robert, only 5 years his elder, from the same home. His brother, John, died in 1944 of Tuberculosis at Columbia Hospital. Most of Thomas’ siblings chose to go to war, but Thomas was drafted. A 23 year old, who never went to high school, his furthest education being Saint Josephs here in Waukesha, worked at Diamond T Motor. Diamond T Motor was a company that produced some of the United States Army vehicles. The company was located in Chicago, where the Jaquests lived, as shown in a 1930 census of Cook County. Thomas probably worked at the Chicago factory.

When drafted, he went to field artillery. He was trained at Fort Ord, California and paired with the South Dakota National Guard in Battery F, 147th Field Artillery. He was a private, and after his training would rejoin with the rest of the division before shipping out in November of 1941. Sent overseas, this would be the furthest he would get from home. Sent to Australia, only 12 men would die in the 147th. 

Thomas J. Jaquest would never make it home. On September 21st 1942, almost a full year after he had been shipped out, he would die - Either Killed In Action (KIA), or Died Non-Battle (DNB). These reports come from the Waukesha county World War 2 records history. The other is from the national archives. Thomas is believed to be one of the first servicemen KIA in the Pacific; however, he may have DNB. Thomas would never return to Wisconsin. Buried in a peaceful grave on Timor Island, his mother would now have two blue stars and one gold. She would not see his original funeral. His body was moved to a graveyard in California. Never again would the family be whole. 

This story is one of tragedy. A family who already sent two of the three eligible soldiers to war would be called to send all. The last one, Thomas J. Jaquest, would never make it home. The cause of his death is unknown; and, his family would never be whole. A Catholic, he would be remembered in the Gold star honor roll of his church, Saint Josephs. Yet, that is not a trade anyone would want.

A Brief HIstorical Sketch of St. Joseph’s Parish at Waukesha, Wisconsin with a record of The Erection of Catholic Memorial High School and The Founding of St. Mary’s Parish. (Waukesha) A Century of Grace 

U.S Census Bureau. “Fifteenth Census of the United States:1930 Population Schedule” Ancestry.com Accessed March 1st, 2023. https://www.ancestry.com

Waukesha Daily, Freeman. “County 16th in War Casualties.” Waukesha Daily Freeman, June 24, 1946. 

Webb, Robert G. “The Pacific Odyssey of Capt. William H. Daly and the 147th Field Artillery Regiment, 1941-1946.” South Dakota History 23, no. 2, May 4, 1993.

World War 2 service record, Brown envelope with a pink ribbon and two gold stars. 18th September, 1944. Waukesha County World War 2 Records History 1190. World War 2 Records History. Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum. Waukesha Museum.