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name
NIEMI, Ralph Edwin - Date of
birth
29 September 1909 -
Age
35 - Place of
birth
HIbbing, St. Louis County, Minnesota -
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O1014371 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
36th Infantry Battalion,
3rd Armored Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
13 April 1945 - Place of
death
Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 9 | 17 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles O. Niemi (father)
Minnie (Hendrickson) Niemi (mother)
Walter A. Niemi (brother)
Rufus A. Niemi (brother)
Norman Niemi (brother)
Roy Niemi (brother)
Gladys Niemi (sister)
More information
1st Lt Ralph E Niemi graduated from Waller High school and Monroe College of Optometry.He enlisted on 16 June 1941 at Chicago, Illinois. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in January 1943 at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Lt Niemi accompanied his men into a partially conquered town to inspect gun positions and was killed by a snipers bullet. He died instantly after being shot in the head.
He had been wounded twice before his death for which he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal two times.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com Niemi Family Tree / Southeast Economist
Photo source: Niemi Family Tree, www.findagrave.com, Des Philippet, WWII Draft Card