14 Names to Remember Project

14 Names to Remember | Herman C. Niemann

14 Names to Remember Project. Layout by Tonya Strickland. Historic graphics attributed.

Gig Harbor Now columnist Tonya Strickland researched and profiled the 14 local men whose names appear on the World War II monument at Kenneth Leo Marvin Memorial Park. Find all 14 profiles here.

Hometown: Vaughn

Branch: U.S. Army

Rank: Private

Died: June 21, 1943 | Age 19

Pvt. Herman “Hap” Cecil Niemann was born Jan. 18, 1924, in Tacoma, to Caroline “Biddy” (Hansen) Niemann and Herman Niemann Sr.

Herman Niemann’s nicknames were “Hap,” and “Happy.” In the 1940 U.S. Census, he had two brothers: Robert “Bob” and Maxwell Niemann. Bob Niemann is also named on Gig Harbor’s WWII Memorial. He and Hap were born just 11 months apart.

When Hap Niemann registered for the draft on June 30, 1942, he was 6 feet tall and 150 pounds; with brown hair and blue eyes and a light complexion. He worked at the Naval Ammunition Depot in Bremerton.

On Feb. 8, 1943, Niemann enlisted in WWII in Tacoma. About four months in, while stationed at Hamilton Army Airfield in California, he was accidentally shot and killed by a bullet from a submachine gun he was carrying while on patrol duty. The incident was reported in local newspapers and the Niemann family published an ad thanking the community for its support.

Pvt. Niemann is buried in his hometown of Vaughn at the Niemann Family Cemetery, a small private site with 14 graves located across the street from the Vaughn Bay Cemetery on 186th Avenue.

Status: DNB – Died Non-Battle