John B. Miettunen
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
John B. Miettunen of Hibbing, Minnesota was inducted into the Army on July 22, 1943.
He was a Technician 4th Grade and a surgical technician with Company G in the 290th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division in Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was wounded in action in the European Theater of Operations. He was hospitalized for frozen feet and returned to combat.
He wrote in a letter to home: "Frank Kempf and I have been living in a fox hole for so long that being in a building seems strange. We were just in the Battle of the Belgian Bulge where we stopped von Rundstedt...we have ''Herman the German'' on the run now. I think Herman is getting a little tired by now.
"He has been chased through Africa, Italy, France, Belgium and now through the Fatherland. Frank and I are still buddies together although both are mere shadows of their former selves .... A short time later, Frank was killed in the same foxhole with me...war is hell!"
Mr. Miettunen received the: Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman Badge, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Service Medal with three bronze battle stars, American Campaign Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and two overseas service bars.
He was discharged on April 23, 1946.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 205.
