Sergeant Alfred B. Nietzel, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on November 18, 1944 in Heistern, Germany during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company H, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. Nietzel was 23 years old.
Nietzel was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on March 18, 2014, 69 years after the action — the White House to his cousin by President Barack Obama.
Nietzel was born on April 27, 1921 in New York, Queens County, New York. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.
Nietzel is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Sergeant Alfred B. Nietzel distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a section leader for Company H, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Heistern, Germany on November 18, 1944. That afternoon, Sergeant Nietzel fought tenaciously to repel a vicious enemy attack against his unit. Sergeant Nietzel employed accurate, intense fire from his machinegun 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 machinegun ammunition, Sergeant Nietzel began firing his rifle into the attacking ranks until he was killed by the explosion of an enemy grenade. Sergeant Nietzel’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (November 18, 1944).
- Age at death: 23
- Resting place: Long Island National Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Alfred B. Nietzel received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- April 27, 1921Born in New York, Queens County, New York
- November 18, 1944Act of valor — Heistern, GermanyAge 23. Company H, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division Killed in action.
- March 18, 2014Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyThe White House to his cousin by President Barack Obama
- Resting placeLong Island National CemeteryFarmingdale, New York
Biography
Alfred B. Nietzel (April 27, 1921 – November 18, 1944) is a posthumous recipient of the US Medal of Honor. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in a March 18, 2014 ceremony in the White House. The award came 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.
From the Wikipedia article “Alfred B. Nietzel”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
