Leslie Niemi

ASN: 36413714

Registering for the draft on June 30, 1942 Leslie Niemi entered the military service on December 9, 1942. This 20-year-old high school graduate from Rapid River, Michigan was listed as being 5’8”, 160 pounds with a scar on his left hand and arm.

After entering the service Private Niemi received training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and assigned to A-Battery, 319th Field Artillery Group, 82nd Airborne Division. He was promoted to Private First Class on February 1, 1945.

Private Niemi traveled with the battalion to North Africa in May, 1943 later serving in the major campaigns of Naples-Foggia, Normandy, Holland, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. After gliding into Normandy and Holland PFC Niemi also fought at the Battle of the Bulge.

World War II Draft Card (front)

World War II Draft Card (back)

The photos below depict Les Niemi and other 319th enlisted men. Courtesy of William Bonnamy and the Niemi Family.

Medals, Arm Patch, and Service Bars

PFC Niemi (standing left) returns from the Battle of the Bulge greeted by a Red Cross volunteer

PVT Niemi (right) with fellow soldier William Bonnamy the day they left Nijmegen, Holland to return to France

"A" Battery soldiers and PVT Niemi (wearing helmet) firing 75mm howitzer at the Battle of Bulge

PFC Les Niemi (center) - Epinal, France - June 1945

Company Morning Reports

Company Morning Reports were produced every morning in Army units relating to personnel matters. Below are several reports (44-45) of Private Niemi’s status and promotion to Private First Class.

From absent/sick to duty February 12, 1944

PVT Niemi duty to furlough in Birmingham England

PVT Niemi appointed to Private First Class

The Adjusted Service Rating Score (ASR) was the system the U.S. Army used at the end of the war to determine when soldiers were eligible for discharge. With a score over 85 points Private First Class Niemi was deemed a “high point” soldier and returned to civilian life in late 1945.

He was awarded 6 Bronze Battle Stars, Bronze Arrowhead, Good Conduct Medal, the Belgian Fourragere, Presidential Unit Citation Badge, Victory Ribbon and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon.

Leslie V. Niemi, 69, passed away January 26,1992.

God bless this hero.

STL Archive Records

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