Joseph Niehaus

ASN:35450010

Joseph Niehaus served in the US Army during World War II:

• Enlistment: Enlisted on March 30, 1942, at Fort Thomas, Kentucky.

• Basic Training: Trained at Camp Claiborne, later at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

• Assignment: Cook with HQ Battery of the 319th Glider Field Artillery, 82nd Airborne Division.

• Campaigns: Participated in campaigns including Sicily, Normandy (D-Day invasion), Naples-Foggia, the invasion of Holland, the Battle of the Bulge, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe.

• Highest Rank: Private First Class.

• Honors: Received the Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, 6 bronze battle stars, 1 bronze arrowhead and the Belgian Fourragere. (see discharge record below)

• Specific Actions: Fought in the Naples-Foggia campaign, Volturno River sector in Italy (Oct 4 - Oct 8, 1943), Ruhr Valley near Cologne, Germany (Apr 2 - Apr 28, 1945), Normandy (D-Day), Holland (invasion), and the Battle of the Bulge. He saw action at the Elbe River sector in Germany from April 29, 1945 to May 8, 1945 and participated in the occupation of the Elbe river sector from May 9 through June 3, 1945. (see discharge record below)

• He qualified in the following glider flights; September 23, 1944, October 13, 1944, December 16, 1944, March 12, 1945, May 27, 1945, May 31, 1945, June 14, 1945. He was entitled to four overseas service bars as well. His glider qualification certificate was issued December 8, 1944 by Colonel James Todd.

• Qualifications: Earned a glider badge, participated in multiple glider flights.

• Transfer: He was a High Point soldier and transferred to the 681ST Glider Field Artillery Battalion on June 23, 1945. This was to facilitate an early departure from the ETO with an ASR score of 91.

• Return Home: Returned to the US on September 14, 1945; Separated from service on October 12, 1945.

• Passing: Died on February 7, 1992, in Cincinnati, Ohio. God Bless this hero.

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