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| branch = 25px United States Army | serviceyears = 1940–1944 | rank = Sergeant | servicenumber = | unit = Co. H, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division | commands = | battles = World War II | awards = }} Alfred B. Nietzel (April 27, 1921 – November 18, 1944) is a recipient of the Medal of Honor.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title=Sergeant Alfred B. Nietzel )〕 He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in a March 18, 2014 ceremony in the White House. The award comes through the Defense Authorization Act which in 2002, called for a review of Jewish American and Hispanic American veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to ensure that no prejudice was shown to those deserving the Medal of Honor. ==Biography== Census records tend to indicate that Nietzel was born in Fordham, Bronx, New York on April 27, 1921, the first of three sons and second oldest child of Alfred C. Nietzel and Ruth Lawrence.〔1920 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Bronx Assembly District 2, Bronx, New York; Roll: T625_1132; Page: 17B; Enumeration District: 132; Image: 887, "Albert Nietzel." 〕 The family may have fallen apart due to Nietzel's father's commitment to state mental institutions in Rockland and Orange County where he died in 1971.〔1940 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Middletown, Orange, New York; Roll: T627_2709; Page: 16A; Enumeration District: 36-41, "Albert Nietzel." 〕 〔U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, Number: 131-42-1283; Issue State: New York; Issue Date: 1967.〕 In the 1930 census, Alfred and his brothers are in a foster home in Harrison, New York. By 1940, Alfred had left high school after two years and had been working as a machinist in Nassau County, Long Island. On October 5, 1940, he enlisted in the United States Army in Jamaica, Queens, New York.〔(WWII Army Enlistment Records )〕 It is not clearly known if Nietzel immediately joined the Army's 16th Infantry Regiment then posted in New York City at Fort Jay on Governors Island, or if he served in other units prior to November 1944. By late November 1944, Nietzel was a sergeant in Company H, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, as U.S. First Army's move across France, Belgium and Germany had been in heavy, grueling, combat for nearly seven straight weeks since September. Alfred died in combat during the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, along the Belgium-German border on November 18, 1944. The Hürtgen Forest was hard fought and the longest battle ever waged by the U.S. Army. The battle's heavy losses and questionable objectives were soon overshadowed by the desperate circumstances of the Battle of the Bulge a month later, leaving the Hürtgen Forest offensive largely forgotten. In an intense day of fighting for a hill and the town of Heistern, Germany, several 16th Infantry soldiers were awarded the Sliver Star and Distinguished Service Cross. Nietzel's original 1945 Distinguished Service Cross citation noted that he selflessly covered for the retreating members of his squad which he had sent to the rear for reinforcements. He did so by laying down suppressive fire with his .30 caliber machine-gun on an enemy advance threatening to overrun his position. He continued until all his ammunition was expended then picked up his rifle and continued firing until killed by an enemy grenade. His actions delayed the advance of the opposing force long enough for reinforcements to arrive, stop and turn back the enemy.〔https://www.facebook.com/govislandnps/photos/pb.316922631589.-2207520000.1414636742./10152252982946590/?type=3&theater Accessed 29 October 2014〕 The 2014 Medal of Honor citation further observed: "That afternoon, Sergeant Nietzel fought tenaciously to repel a vicious enemy attack against his unit. Sergeant Nietzel employed accurate, intense fire from his machine gun and successfully slowed the hostile advance. However, the overwhelming enemy force continued to press forward. Realizing he desperately needed reinforcements, Sergeant Nietzel ordered the three remaining members of his squad to return to the company command post and secure aid. He immediately turned his attention to covering their movement with his fire. After expending all his machine gun ammunition, Sergeant Nietzel began firing his rifle into the attacking ranks until he was killed by the explosion of an enemy grenade."〔http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=32243 Accessed 29 October 2014.〕 After his death, he was temporarily interred at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium and repatriated to the United States in 1949.〔"Nietzel, Alfred B." Interment Control Forms, 1928–1962. Interment Control Forms, A1 2110-B. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, Record Group 92. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.〕 On April 19,1949, a week before what would have been his 28th birthday, Nietzel was laid to rest at the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York. 〔"Nietzel, Alfred B." Interment Control Forms, 1928–1962. Interment Control Forms, A1 2110-B. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, Record Group 92. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.〕 On the same day and in the adjoining gravesite, his younger brother William Nietzel, a private in the Army Air Corps was also buried. William died of non-combat causes on April 6, 1944, at Horsham Airfield in Norwich, England.〔"Nietzel, William E." Interment Control Forms, 1928–1962. Interment Control Forms, A1 2110-B. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, Record Group 92. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Alfred B. Nietzel」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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