Walter Nies

Eureka, SD

1938, 2757, Narrows (Blue Bell) SP-3,

In Memory of U.S. Army Air Force Staff Sergeant Walter Nies Eureka, South Dakota McPherson County June 4, 1920 - May 28, 1944. Killed as Prisoner of War in Germany.

Walter Nies (also Niesz) was born June 4, 1920, to John and Frederika Nies at Eureka, McPherson County, South Dakota. Prior to entering the service, Walter had served in the CCC and was engaged in farming with his father near Eureka.

On September 25, 1942, Walter Nies entered active service at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota. His brother, Albert, last saw him when they attended their father’s funeral a few months prior to Walter’s leaving for foreign service.

On October 16, 1943, Nies went overseas as part of the 96th Bomber Squadron, 2nd Bomber Group (H). S/Sgt. Nies "saw active service on the Italian front and was taken prisoner while on a bombing missing over Bulgaria." He was on his 37th mission and was overdue for relief. On this mission, Walter forgot the Bible he always carried. On January 24, 1944, he was reported missing in action. In a letter from the War Department, dated June 15, 1944, Walter’s mother received the following news: It is with deep regret that I am writing to confirm the recent telegram informing you of the death of your son, Staff Sergeant Walter Nies, 37,307,545, Air Corps, who was previously reported a prisoner of war. Information has now been received from the German Government through the International Red Cross stating that your son died on 28 May 1944.

The ten-man crew of Nies' B-17 had been taken as prisoners of the Nazis when they ran out of gas and were forced to parachute to safety. The waist gunner visited Mrs. Nies after the war and provided further details. "They were placed in a prison camp where they were mistreated and underfed," reported the McPherson County Herald. "In the early morning of May 27, Sgt. Nies complained that he wasn't feeling well and left the sleeping quarters to go to the wash room. It was there that the German guard fired on the Eureka soldier, the bullet entering his back near the left side." The waist gunner "could not explain why Nies had been shot but did state that the guard was transferred to another area the following day. During their confinement at this particular prison, four American soldiers were shot in a similar fashion."

Walter Nies is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. He was awarded the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart. This entry was respectfully submitted by Sheila Hansen, Fallen Sons State Coordinator, Spearfish, SD. Information for this entry was provided by an application for a SD veteran’s bonus payment, the McPherson County Herald, 7/19/45 issue, the Aberdeen American News, 7/25/44 issue, and Albert Nies.

Do you have additional information about Walter Nies

We would like to included it. Please write or email us at History "at" SouthDakotaCCC "dot" org.