Vernon Riemann

Personal Information

Birthplace: Claflin, KS

Service Information

Branch of Service: Army

Unit: 501st Army Airborne

Theater of Operation: American

Highest Rank: PFC

Honored By: The Eisenhower Foundation

Biography

Vernon Riemann was born in the country near Claflin, Kansas, where he lived most of his life. In 1945, the U.S. passed a ruling to not take enlistments for six months, as they had too many men enlisting in the Navy. Riemann received a one year deferment because he lived and worked on the family farm. After a few months, Riemann asked to be drafted. He did not want the thought of ‘being drafted’, hanging over his head. Riemann thought he might as well serve and have it done. He was placed in the Army Airborne 501st division and served at Fort Benning, where he was a clerk. Riemann said he would volunteer again to protect our country, but he did not agree with Americans going to help other countries fight for their own civil conflicts.