World War II Honoree

William H. Niemeier

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Mrs. Julia Grady

HE ENLISTED IN APRIL 1943 JUST PRIOR TO HIS 19TH BIRTHDAY. HE ATTENDED SERVICE SCHOOLS AT STATE TEACHER COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA, SANTA ANA CALIFORNIA AND LAS VEGAS NEVADA. FOLLOWING AERIAL GUNNER AND BOMBARDIER TRAINING AT DEMING ARMY AIR FIELD NEW MEXICO HE WAS COMMISSIONED A 2ND LIEUTENANT AND ASSIGNED TO THE 408TH BOMB SQUADRON 22ND BOMB GROUP 5TH AIR FORCE 'RED RAIDERS'. HE ARRIVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER 26 JANUARY 1945. HE TOOK PART IN CAMPAIGNS IN NEW GUINEA, LUZON, THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES, WESTERN PACIFIC, THE CHINA OFFENSIVE, THE CHINA DEFENSIVE, THE AIR OFFENSIVE JAPAN, AND RYUKYUS. HE FLEW 33 MISSIONS AND WAS AWARDED THE ASIATIC PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON WITH 8 BATTLE STARS, THE AIR MEDAL WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, THE PHILIPPINES LIBERATION RIBBON WITH STAR, THE OVERSEAS SERVICE BAR, THE AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, AND THE WWII VICTORY RIBBON. HE RETURNED TO THE STATES 13 NOVEMBER 1945. HE WOULD ALWAYS REMOVE HIS SHOES BEFORE SETTLING IN OVER HIS BOMBSIGHTS. HE RETIRED AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL FROM THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE IN 1969.