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The Daily GlobeSubmitted PhotoWilbert Niemi, of Ironwood, is presented on July 4 with a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and a shadow box containing all of his medals and military distinctions earned while serving in World War II by his family. Family members include, first row from left, his niece Hazel Rouker’s granddaughter Whitney Buchen, niece Roslyn Jansson’s granddaughter Serene Elmahdy, Ron Jansson’s grandson Nickolas Hormann and Hazel Rouker’s granddaughter Abby Buchen; second row: his sister Julia Abramson, Wilbert Niemi, sister-in-law Laura Niemi and sister Tyyne Salonen; third row: his niece Lysa Rouker, nephew Michael Pakonen, niece Lorraine Ruona, niece Sharon Ruona, niece Bunme Johnson, niece Dorothy Pakonen, niece Roslyn Jansson and niece Hazel Rouker; and fourth row: Brady Mattson, Ron Jansson, Dale Johnson, Cheryl Jansson and Marvin Tassava.IRONWOOD — WilbertNiemi, of Ironwood, was presented with a United States flag on July 4 that flew over the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., for his service in the 94th Infantry during World War II.The flag flew over the Capitol on Memorial Day.Niemi was inducted into theU.S. Army on Dec. 7, 1942. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge in southeast Belgium and in Ardennes, France.On Monday, he was also presented with a shadow box containing all of his medals and military distinctions he had earned while fighting in WWII. Many of his family and friends were in attendance at the presentation.Many relatives and descendants of Niemi have served, or are currently serving, overseas. Niemi’s great nephews, Michael Pakonen, from Sterling, Va., Timothy Niemi, of Ironwood, Nathan Niemi, of Ironwood, and Douglas Pakonen, of Two Harbors, Minn., all served.Michael Pakonen retired from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserves after 22 years of active duty, Timothy Niemiretired from the U.S. Air Force after 21 years of service, Nathan Niemi served in the U.S. Air Force for seven years and Douglas Pakonen is serving in the Army National Guard.Niemi’s nephews, the lateJack Mattson, the late Richard Salonen and Irwin Mattson, of Bessemer, also served. Jack Mattson was in the US. Coast Guard for four years, IrwinMattson was in the U.S. Armyfor four years and Richard Salonen was in the U.S. Air Force for six years.Niemi has two great-great-nephews serving currently.Charles Lee Simko is in Kentucky, serving in the U.S. Army, and Martin Nathan Bell is on board the USS Berry for the U.S. Navy near Libya in support of “Operation Odyssey Dawn ”
Newspaper Details
Ironwood Daily Globe
Ironwood, Michigan, US
Thu, Jul 07, 2011
Page 18
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USA 12 Dec 2018
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