1st Lt. Robert F. Niemann's children, siblings and other family members will hold a memorial tribute at the New Ulm Soldiers Rest Cemetery on May 12. Veterans Services Officer Greg Peterson is the local group leader arranging for family transportation, flags flown at the cemetery and downtown New Ulm, motorcycle riders flag line, family dinner and a Brown County Historical Society tribute to Niemann to premier at 1 p.m. May 12.
The U.S. Air Force authorized a 21-member Military Honors Detail to perform at 10am in addition to an authorized military aircraft fly-by. Minnesota Congressman Tim Walz, two U.S. senators, Minnesota veterans' leaders and Korean veterans' groups have been invited to attend. In addition, Peterson will ask commissioners to name May 12 as "Robert Niemann Day" via a proclamation to be brought before the board in the coming weeks.
Niemann was flying an F-86E Sabre when he and three other Sabres were engaged by two Russian MIG-15s while patrolling near the Sui Ho reservoir. Although presumed dead, he was in fact wounded in the incident, interrogated by Soviets, and "disappeared," according to a detailed account of his last known activity written by Peterson Here.
"The former Soviet documents prove that he was alive for an unknown period of time, and in their custody, and reported that he died in Siodvio (Sinuiju) region of North Korea," Peterson wrote. "He was well-remembered for his resistance to interrogation. Soviet veterans confirm Niemann was alive long enough for Soviet forces to record the fact that Niemann refused to answer questions. He said he was wounded and it was an international law violation for him to answer questions (in a wounded condition)." Story