Remembering World War II

Name: Ivan Vernon Nietz Rank: Private First Class Service Number: 32589975 Service: 417th Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Division, US Army Awards: Purple Heart Date of Birth: September 25, 1921 Place of Birth: Yarmouth Co., Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: Unknown Place of Enlistment: Unknown Address at Enlistment: New Jersey Age at Enlistment: Unknown Height: 5 feet, 5 inches Complexion: Light Next of Kin: Mrs. Fred Nietz (mother) Religion: Protestant Date of Death: March 5, 1945 Age: 23 Cemetery: Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, Luxembourg Grave: Plot D, Row 4, Grave 25 Ivan Vernon Nietz was the son of Frederick William Nietz (1896-1966) and Hilda Vaughn (Sherman) Nietz (1896–1948). His father was born in Yarmouth, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia. (Records sometimes record the family surname as Neitz). Ivan had many siblings including Frederick ‘Fred’ George Nietz (1918–2004), Hilda Muriel (Nietz) Raupp (1919–2013), Mabel Irene (Nietz) Vandermark (1923–2005), Joyce Laverne (Nietz) Lake (1925–2009), Allen S Nietz (1926–2005), Clyde E Nietz (1927–1984), Ruby (Nietz) Burchell, and Patty (Nietz) Moran. Ivan, his brother Fred, and his sisters Hilda Muriel and Mabel Irene were born in Nova Scotia. His other siblings were born in the United States after the family immigrated there in 1924. The family settled in Dover in Morris County, New Jersey. Ivan’s brothers served in the US Army during the Second World War. Fred served with the 101st Airborne Division in Europe and took part in the D-Day landings and Normandy Campaign. Ivan’s brother Allen served with the 27th Infantry Regiment of 25th Division. Ivan’s brother Clyde served in the US Army from February 4, 1946, until he was discharged August 3, 1947. Ivan was living in Dover, New Jersey, in 1940, on 65 Munson Avenue. He was working for the Acme Metal Products Inc. when he registered for the draft February 15, 1942 in Dover. After enlistment, Ivan served with the 417th Infantry Regiment of the 76th Infantry Division. Private First Class Ivan Vernon Nietz was killed in action March 5, 1945, somewhere between Luxembourg and Germany in the European Theatre. He was interred at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and is also memorialised at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Randolph, Morris Co., New Jersey.

Ivan Vernon Nietz

Sources: findagrave findagrave (Memorial) American Battle Monuments Commission – Ivan V. Nietz Honorstates American Battle Monuments Commission – Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial 76th Division Honor Roll

Members of 3rd Battalion, 417th Regiment, 75th Infantry Division, clean their weapons before moving up to the line near Echternach, Luxembourg