Zeigler, Illinois Website

Wayne W. Nieman
U.S. Army

Wayne Nieman was born January 23, 1919 in Eldorado, Illinois. In 1936, Wayne graduated from Zeigler community High School. On March 26, 1941 he entered the US Army and was assigned to the 200th Coast Artillery Battalion. Immediately after World War II was declared Nieman was shipped to the Philippine Islands. After a gallant defense by the US Army, the Japanese overran Bataan and Nieman was captured and sent to Bilibid Prison and later to Cabanatuan death Camp. For the next two years Nieman remained in the prisoner of war camp where he was assigned to burial details duty. Thirteen months before the Philippines were liberated, Wayne Nieman was shipped to Japan’s Fukuoka Camp No. 3 where he was forced to perform slave labor in a steel mill. Before Japan surrendered to end World War II, Nieman spent 120 days in a Japanese POW hospital. When he was finally released by the US Army, Nieman weighed only 88 pounds.
In 1946, after discharge from an American Army Hospital, Nieman returned to civilian life in Carlsbad, New Mexico. He put his Zeigler coal mining skills to good use as motorman at Potash Company of America. Nieman worked underground for a period of 40 years with out an accident.
Mr. Nieman’s military decorations and citations include the Purple Heart, American tefense Service Ribbon with Bronze Star, distinguished Unit Badge with three oak clusters and the Victory Ribbon.

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