Bernard Nicholas Thaisen
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
THAISEN, Bernard Nicholas
Bernard Nicholas Thaisen was born on May 25th 1918 to Nick & Emma Josephine [Erikson] Thaisen in Section 30, near Ely, Minnesota.
Mr. Thaisen was inducted into the U.S. Army on October 26th 1942, at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Home at entry: Ely.
Mr. Thaisen served as a gun crewman / mortar with Company H of the 382nd Infantry Regiment and 96th Infantry Division. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT). During R&R in 1943 he married Winnifred H [Overom] on December 1st.
SGT Thaisen participated om the D-Day assault landings in Southern Philippines and Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa). He was wounded in action on April 16th 1945, in Okinawa, Central Pacific Theater. On Okinawa he met his brother Matt Thaisen who was serving with the Army Air Corps on nearby Ia Shima Island.
SGT Thaisen earned the following merits for his service:
- Combat Infantryman Badge,
- Bronze Star Medal,
- Purple Heart,
- Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal,
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 1 bronze battle star,
- World War II Victory Medal,
- two overseas service bars,
- Bronze Arrowhead, -and-
- Philippine Liberation Medal with 2 bronze stars.
Mr. Thaisen was honorably discharged on January 13th 1946, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.After the war he returned home to his wife and they started a family.
Mr. Thaisen died on June 16th 1985 at 67 years of age. He is buried at Ely Cemetery in Ely.
Source(s): Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 321.
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Page 1 WWII Draft Registration Cards - Fold3
Bernard Nicholas Thaisen (1918-1985) - Find a Grave Memorial
U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 - Ancestry.com
