During World War II, the 45th Division of the U.S. Army landed in North Africa in June of 1943, and trained in French Morocco. In July, they transferred to Sicily, in their first major amphibious operation. In September of 1943, they landed at Salerno. They fought along the Calore River, the Volturno River, and at Venafro. By January of 1944, the Division made it to the mountains at St. Elia north of Cassino.

The 45th Division landed at Anzio, Italy on January 22, 1944, and fought for 4 months. In May, they crossed the Tiber River, and made it to Rome in June for rest and training. 

In August of 1944, they landed at St. Maxime in Southern France. They defended the city of Epinal, crossed the Moselle River and entered the western foothills of the Vosges, taking Rambervillers in September. They crossed the Mortagne River in October. They fought north of Mutzig, an anchor of the Maginot Line. 

In November, they crossed the Zintzel River and pushed through the Maginot defenses. From January of 1945, the 45th Division fought defensively along the German border, withdrawing to the Moder River. In March, they moved north to the Sarreguemines area and broke through the Siegfried Line. They captured Homburg, Aschaffenburg, Nurnberg, and Munich in April. On V-E Day on May 8, 1945, the 45th division was stationed near Dachau.

Lafayette County soldier Ernest Nielsen served with the 179th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army during World War II. 

Ernest Nielsen was born in Willow Springs, Lafayette County on Jan. 26, 1920 to father Karl Ernest and Evelyn (Crouch) Nielsen (also sometimes spelled Nielson).

On the 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census records, the Nielsen family lived in Willow Springs Township in Lafayette County. Father Ernest was a farmer. The family included children Doris, Carrie, Ernest, Marjorie, and Theodore.

On July 1, 1941, Ernest Nielsen registered for the WWII Draft. He was a farmer and employed by his father. Their mailing address was Darlington.

On Sept. 2,1942 “Erne T. Nielsen” enlisted for service in WWII in Milwaukee. He had one year of high school and was working as a general farmer. 

Nielsen married Grace Ann Kaiser of Cuba City on Jan. 14, 1943.

From the July 25, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal notice “Darling Soldiers Meet in Italy,” the news was that “Three Darlington soldiers met in June in Anico, on the Anzio beachhead in Italy.” They were Sgt. Ernest Nielsen, Sgt. Clarence Peters, and Sgt. Howard Lower, all of Darlington.

From the October 5, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal notice “Darlington Sergeant Killed in France,” there came the news that “Technical Sgt. Ernest Nielson (sic) Jr., aged 26, was killed in action Sept. 14.” The notice stated that “the war department has notified his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Nielsen, Sr., Darlington, and his wife, Mrs. Grace Nielsen, Dubuque, Ia.

“Born on a farm near Darlington, he attended Darlington schools and worked on his father’s farm until he was inducted into the army Sept. 17, 1942 at Ft. Sheridan, Il. He received his training at Ft. McClelland, Ala., and Camp Butler, N.C., and was sent overseas after 14 months’ training.

“Sent first to Italy, he participated in the battle for Rome and later participated in the battle for southern France.

“He is survived by his parents; his wife, the former Grace Kaiser, Cuba City, to whom he was married Jan. 14, 1943; three sisters, Mrs. Norman Christensen, Darlington, Mrs. Doris Rogers, Dubuque, and Mrs. Charles Clayton, Illinois, and a brother, Theodore, at home.”

A funeral notice in the June 1, 1948 Wisconsin State Journal stated that “The body of Sgt. Ernest Nielsen…will arrive here Thursday for burial.”

The June 14, 1948 issue of The Capital Times front page included a photo of the community meeting the train to bring Sgt. Ernest “Bud” Nielson (sic) home. “Members of the American Legion formed the color guard and acted as pallbearers. Services were held at Holy Rosary church, Darlington...”

Staff Sergeant Ernest Nielsen was repatriated and reburied in Union Grove Cemetery in Darlington in June of 1948. He was killed in action in France in September of 1944 and received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously. He is listed on the Gold Star Honor Roll as Ernest “Nielson” for Lafayette County.

Thank you, Staff Sergeant Ernest Nielsen, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.