World War II Honoree

Robert J. Niland

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tonawanda, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: SERGEANT. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, D COMPANY, 505TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE ‘ALL AMERICAN’ 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. HE WAS KILLED ON D-DAY ALONG WITH 26 OTHER MEN OF HIS PLATOON WHILE REPULSING A HUGE GERMAN FORCE IN THE VICINITY OF NEUVILLE-AU-PLAIN, FRANCE. WHILE PROVIDING A WITHERING, DEADLY LINE OF MACHINE GUN FIRE, HIS PLATOON WAS ABLE TO WITHDRAW AND REJOIN THEIR BATTALION. THE COST OF THIS GALLANT STAND WAS HEAVY; SIXTEEN TROOPERS FROM THE FORTY TWO-MAN PLATOON SURVIVED THE ATTACK. HE IS BURIED AT THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY, COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.