Thomas D. Niedermeier
| Pre-Service: | Taylor Instrument Co. • Finger Lakes Track |
| Residence: | 130 Webster Ave., Rochester, NY |
| Born: | May 1, 1947 (Rochester, NY) |
| Education: | Victor Central; Madison High School |
| Branch: | United States Marine Corps |
| Rank: | Private First Class (PFC) |
| Unit: | Co. F, 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Div. |
| Enlisted: | June 1966 (Rochester, NY) |
| Wounded: | May 5, 1967 (Huong Hoa, South Vietnam) |
| Died: | May 27, 1967 (USS Repose AH-16) (Age 20) |
| Burial: | Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (Vet. Plot), Rochester |
| Memorial: | Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Panel 21E, Line 1) |
| Honors: | Purple Heart • Combat Action Ribbon • Gold Star |
Thomas David Niedermeier (1947–1967)
Taylor Instrument employee, Rochester native, and United States Marine who gave his life from wounds received in the Vietnam War.
Early Life & Career in Rochester
Thomas David Niedermeier was born in Rochester, New York on May 1, 1947, the son of Raymond W. Niedermeier and Dorothy Niedermeier. He grew up in the Rochester area alongside his brothers, Gerald and Richard. After attending Victor Central Schools, he attended and graduated from Rochester's Madison High School.
Following high school, Niedermeier joined the workforce at the Ames Street plant of the Taylor Instrument Companies. Known for his love of horses and animals, he later took a position as a groom at the Finger Lakes Race Track in Canandaigua, New York. He carried an ambitious life plan: after completing his military enlistment, he intended to enter college to earn a degree in veterinary medicine.
Enlistment & Marine Corps Service
In June 1966, Niedermeier enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at Rochester. After completing rigorous recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and infantry combat training at Camp Lejeune, he was assigned to Fox Company ("F" Co.), 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division (Reinforced), III Marine Amphibious Force.
In April 1967, Private First Class Niedermeier deployed overseas to the Republic of Vietnam. The 3rd Marine Division was deployed in the northernmost I Corps tactical zone, along the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Quang Tri Province, facing regular North Vietnamese Army (NVA) units.
Combat at Huong Hoa & Supreme Sacrifice
On May 1, 1967, Niedermeier celebrated his twentieth birthday in the field. Four days later, on May 5, 1967, Fox Company was heavily engaged in intense combat operations in the mountainous Huong Hoa district near Khe Sanh, during what became known as the historic “Hill Fights.” During the fighting, PFC Niedermeier was severely wounded by enemy mortar and artillery shrapnel.
He was medically evacuated by helicopter from the battlefield to the hospital ship USS Repose (AH-16), stationed off the coast of South Vietnam. Despite intensive medical treatment and surgical care aboard the hospital ship, PFC Niedermeier succumbed to his wounds on May 27, 1967, having just turned 20 years of age.
Return Home & Final Resting Place
PFC Niedermeier's remains were escorted home to Rochester. Following solemn services on June 10, 1967, he was laid to rest with full military honors in the Veterans Plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester.
His name is permanently etched into the black granite of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., at Panel 21E, Line 1. GEWAME preserves his memory as a testament to the young men of Taylor Instrument who answered the call of duty and made the supreme sacrifice in Southeast Asia.
- National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), U.S. Marine Corps Casualty Records (PFC Thomas D. Niedermeier, Co. F, 2/3 Marines; Incident May 5, 1967, Huong Hoa; Died May 27, 1967 aboard USS Repose AH-16).
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) • National Memorial Directory (The Wall: Panel 21E, Line 1).
- Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY), “Area Marine Dies of War Wounds,” May 31, 1967.
- Rochester Times-Union, “PFC T. D. Niedermeier Succumbs on Ship,” May 31, 1967.
- Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Records, Veterans Section, Rochester, New York (Burial June 10, 1967).
- Taylor Instrument Companies, Ames Street Plant Personnel & Alumni Records.
