Geimer, Jerome H.

JEROME H GEIMER

SECOND LIEUTENANT
U.S. ARMY

Jerome Geimer, born May 3, 1916 to Fred Geimer, manager of Steifel Grain company, was a graduate of Decatur Catholic High School. Jerome was one of six children, four brothers (all of which served in the army) and one sister. His sister worked in a war production plant in Celina, Ohio. His brother Raymond Geimer, was a Sergeant in the Army and served in Germany. Aloysius "Al", another brother, was a Technical Sergeant served at a field hospital in England. Brother Ambrose served in France as Tech 5. Cornelius "Corny", his other brother, was also a Technical Sergeant and served in India. A cousin, Gerald, a Private, served in England.

According to an April 24, 1943 article in the Decatur Daily Democrat, the Geimer's were "believed to be the largest number of sons in service by any family in Adams County".

He married Justine Spangler, who resided in Decatur, Indiana at 108 South 3rd Street, and had one daughter, Margaret Ann Geimer. She died on February 12, 1942 just hours after birth. 

On July 15, 1942 Jerome Geimer joined the United States Army. While serving Jerome was with General Patton's 3rd Army serving in France, near the German border. He achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant but was later promoted on the battlefield to a Second Lieutenant assigned to the 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division. 

The 80th Division was activated on July 15, 1942 and would set sail on July 4, 1944 aboard the SS Queen Mary eventually landing in Greenock, Scotland. From there, the 80th Division moved on to France, landing on Utah Beach on August 3, 1944. The 80th Infantry served in numerous campaigns including Northern France, Rhineland, and Ardennes-Alsace. Additionally, elements of the 80th participated in the liberation of both Buchenwald and Ebensee Concentration Camps in April 1945.The division recorded 239 days of combat and became inactive on January 5, 1946. The 80th Division, known as the "Blue Ridge" Division lost over 3,500 men in combat from D-Day to VE Day. Included in these numbers are eight men from Adams County. 

On November 8, 1944 Jerome was reported "Missing In Action" (MIA) in France. On November 14, 1944 the war board announced him dead. Geimer is buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in Lorraine, France. 

Upon completion of the war, his brother, Cornelius returned home to Decatur Indiana. Cornelius then married the widowed Justine Spangler-Geimer, and had a son, Roger Geimer. Justine passed away on June 28, 1975. 

For his service and sacrifice, 2nd Lt. Geimer earned the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, American Theatre Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal. Lieutenant Geimer also earned the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Information collected and researched by Trey Villagomez, 2014. 

SOURCES

"80th Infantry division." 80thdivision.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. http://80thdivision.com/80thhisotry.htm.

"Jerome H Geimer (born 1916)."ancientfaces.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.http://www.ancientfaces.com/person/jerome-h-geimer/156428466.

Kneuss, Alicia. "Margaret Ann Geimer." Findagrave.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec.2014.http://image2.findagrave.com/photos/2013/255/116994615_137907637342.jpg.

Lengerich, Mandy. E-mail interview by Bryan Lineberry. 1 Dec. 2014.

"Lt. Giemer Memorial Service Here Tuesday." Decatur. Daily Democrat[Decatur] 14 Nov. 1944: n. pag. Print.

"Lt. Jerome Giemer Is Reported As Killed In Action In France."Decatur. Daily Democrat [Decatur] 14Nov. 1944: n. pag. Print.

"Lt. Jerome Giemer Missing, Sgt. Kenny Prisoner of War." Decatur. Daily Democrat [Decatur] 14 Nov.1944: n. pag. Print.

Yearbook Staff, ed. 1936 Yearbook. Decatur, IN: Decatur Catholic High School, 1937. Print.

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