NILAND F W - 501 PIR 101 AD

Frederick William NILAND "Fritz"

	ARMY SERIAL NUMBER	12051971
	DATE OF BIRTH	23 april 1920 Tonawanda Comté d'Erie NEW YORK
	STATE	Erie County NEW YORK
	FAMILY	Parent: Michael C & Augusta Witzke NILAND
	RANK	Sergeant
	FONCTION	Paratroopper
JOB before ENLISTEMENT
DATE of ENLISTEMENT	27 november 1942 Buffalo NEW YORK
COMPANY	Company H
BATTALION	3^rd battalion
REGIMENT	501^st Parachute Infantry Regiment
DIVISION	101^st Airborne Division

STORY
Frederick was parachuted on Normandy on June 6, 1944. Frederick's C-47 was hit when he arrived over the drop zone. Frederick landed in Raffoville southwest of Carentan. It took him a week to find his regiment. He joined his regiment around June 12, 1944 on the side of Hill 30 The objective of the 3rd Battalion is to take Exits 1 and 2 at Pouppeville and Haudienville DZ C Hiesville. Frederick took time to visit his brother Robert who was assigned to the 82^nd Airborne Division. When he arrived at the 82nd Airborne Division, he learned that his brother died in combat on June 6th. When Frederick learned that his brother Robert had died and buried at St. Mother Church. Arriving in front of his brother's grave, he realizes that Preston's first name is another brother. At first they thought of a mistake but that was not the case. At the end of the summer of 1944, Father Sampson came to see Fritz before embarking on Operation Market Garden. He told him that the President of the United States had ordered him to return to the United States. "Fritz" refused he still wanted to fight. A day and a half after he was on his way to the United States. Following the deaths of his brothers, Frederick is repatriated to the United States where he was employed as Military Police in New York. For his service Frederick received the bronze star. Frederick died on December 1, 1983. The PVT James F RYAN in the movie "Saving Soldier RYAN" is based on the story of Frederick W NILAN.