World War II Honoree

Frederick 'Fritz' Niland

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tonawanda, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: SERGEANT. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, EASY COMPANY, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. HE WAS A PARATROOPER WHO JUMPED INTO FRANCE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE. DURING THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN, HE WAS PULLED OUT OF COMBAT AND SHIPPED BACK TO ENGLAND WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT HIS OTHER TWO BROTHERS WERE KILLED DURING THE D-DAY INVASION. HE WAS EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES AND COMPLETED HIS MILITARY CAREER AS A MILITARY POLICEMAN. DECORATIONS: PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (NORMANDY), BRONZE STAR MEDAL (AWARDED FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT), ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND 1 BRONZE SERVICE STAR, AND THE WWII MEDAL.