WW-II POW Accounted For.....Staff Sergeant Walter Nies USAAF

[1srelluc]

On August 2, 2022, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Staff Sergeant Walter Nies, missing from World War II.

Staff Sergeant Nies entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from South Dakota and was a member of the 96th bombardment Squadron, 2nd Bombardment Group. On January 24, 1944, he was a tail gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-25411) that was forced down near Ulcinj, Montenegro, during a mission. SSG Nies, was among members of the crew who were captured by German troops and taken to Stalag Luft VI Prisoner of War camp. On May 28, 1944, SSG Nies was shot and killed by a prison guard. His remains were buried near the camp; however, he was not identified from among remains recovered from the camp after the war. In 2021, the DPAA reviewed a set of unidentified the remains recovered from near Stalag Luft VI. The remains were accessioned into the DPAA laboratory, where they were identified as those of SSG Nies.

Staff Sergeant Nies is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Luxembourg American Cemetery.

If you are a family member of this service member, you may contact your casualty office representative to learn more about your service member.

S Sgt WALTER NIES - Service Member Profile

Staff Sergeant Walter Nies was the Uncle of a member on another forum but I thought I'd post it up for those who might still be missing a family member who was a servicemen.

Good work DPAA.

 

[Mushroom]

Welcome home, my brother.

 

[whitehall]

The DPAA is a part of the DOD, Defense Dept. Since the cracking of the genetic code decades ago they have been doing a remarkable job in identifying and recovering American service member remains including the Unknown Soldiers. For the record the remains are treated with the same ceremony and respect as current members of the Military who were killed in action.