Submitted by his granddaughter, Monica Michelette:
"Gerhard Paul Herman Kiese was born in Tomnitz, Schlesian, Germany. Outside the village was the family farm, which had been in the family for generations and had its own grave yard. His parents, Paul and Marta, had four children, of which he was the eldest. He had two brothers, Paul and Gunther, as well as a sister, Claire. Claire married Joseph H. Kruse from Silbach. Their son, Seigfried, I think, still runs the family hotel in Silbach. Gunther died in the war. Paul survived and has a daughter, Barbara.
Gerhard married Johanna Marie Henshel, daughter of Herman and Marie Henshel, on Sept. 5, 1934 in Tomnitz, Germany. Their children are Manfred Gerhard Kiese, Barbara Johanna Kiese Michelet and Frank Kiese."
Submitted by John B. Bailey, Jr.: "Gerhard Kiese was born in the mountainous area of Tomnitz, Schlesian, Germany. During the world depression era and the time when Germany was in a turmoil, still recovering from WWI, he made the decision to join Germany's military. As an enlisted man, he was an obedient and loyal soldier who rose to the ranks of sargeant. He was a dedicated defender of Germany and its people but never a NAZI. World War II sent him to service in the famous Rommel's Corps in North Africa, where he was, through his dedication and service, promoted to the officer's rank of Lieutenant. He was captured by U. S. troups, made a prisoner-of-war, and sent to West Monroe, LA to be imprisoned in the war-camp at a site that had been used for city and county fairs and carnivals. During that time, he was instrumental in preventing some U.S. soldiers from deserting their post, which lead to leaving the area. After the war, he was granted dispensation to stay in the U.S. He remained in Monroe/West Monroe, LA. People quickly accepted him as a resident, leading to his becoming a citizen. Gerhard, through hard work and determination, managed to aide in the escape of his wife and children from the Russian sector of Berlin, Germany and brought them to the United States. He was a good citizen, a hard working house painter and a dedicated family man."
"Gerhard Paul Herman Kiese was born in Tomnitz, Schlesian, Germany. Outside the village was the family farm, which had been in the family for generations and had its own grave yard. His parents, Paul and Marta, had four children, of which he was the eldest. He had two brothers, Paul and Gunther, as well as a sister, Claire. Claire married Joseph H. Kruse from Silbach. Their son, Seigfried, I think, still runs the family hotel in Silbach. Gunther died in the war. Paul survived and has a daughter, Barbara.
Gerhard married Johanna Marie Henshel, daughter of Herman and Marie Henshel, on Sept. 5, 1934 in Tomnitz, Germany. Their children are Manfred Gerhard Kiese, Barbara Johanna Kiese Michelet and Frank Kiese."
Submitted by John B. Bailey, Jr.: "Gerhard Kiese was born in the mountainous area of Tomnitz, Schlesian, Germany. During the world depression era and the time when Germany was in a turmoil, still recovering from WWI, he made the decision to join Germany's military. As an enlisted man, he was an obedient and loyal soldier who rose to the ranks of sargeant. He was a dedicated defender of Germany and its people but never a NAZI. World War II sent him to service in the famous Rommel's Corps in North Africa, where he was, through his dedication and service, promoted to the officer's rank of Lieutenant. He was captured by U. S. troups, made a prisoner-of-war, and sent to West Monroe, LA to be imprisoned in the war-camp at a site that had been used for city and county fairs and carnivals. During that time, he was instrumental in preventing some U.S. soldiers from deserting their post, which lead to leaving the area. After the war, he was granted dispensation to stay in the U.S. He remained in Monroe/West Monroe, LA. People quickly accepted him as a resident, leading to his becoming a citizen. Gerhard, through hard work and determination, managed to aide in the escape of his wife and children from the Russian sector of Berlin, Germany and brought them to the United States. He was a good citizen, a hard working house painter and a dedicated family man."
Submitted by his granddaughter, Monica Michelette:
"Gerhard Paul Herman Kiese was born in Tomnitz, Schlesian, Germany. Outside the village was the family farm, which had been in the family for generations and had its own grave yard. His parents, Paul and Marta, had four children, of which he was the eldest. He had two brothers, Paul and Gunther, as well as a sister, Claire. Claire married Joseph H. Kruse from Silbach. Their son, Seigfried, I think, still runs the family hotel in Silbach. Gunther died in the war. Paul survived and has a daughter, Barbara.
Gerhard married Johanna Marie Henshel, daughter of Herman and Marie Henshel, on Sept. 5, 1934 in Tomnitz, Germany. Their children are Manfred Gerhard Kiese, Barbara Johanna Kiese Michelet and Frank Kiese."
Submitted by John B. Bailey, Jr.: "Gerhard Kiese was born in the mountainous area of Tomnitz, Schlesian, Germany. During the world depression era and the time when Germany was in a turmoil, still recovering from WWI, he made the decision to join Germany's military. As an enlisted man, he was an obedient and loyal soldier who rose to the ranks of sargeant. He was a dedicated defender of Germany and its people but never a NAZI. World War II sent him to service in the famous Rommel's Corps in North Africa, where he was, through his dedication and service, promoted to the officer's rank of Lieutenant. He was captured by U. S. troups, made a prisoner-of-war, and sent to West Monroe, LA to be imprisoned in the war-camp at a site that had been used for city and county fairs and carnivals. During that time, he was instrumental in preventing some U.S. soldiers from deserting their post, which lead to leaving the area. After the war, he was granted dispensation to stay in the U.S. He remained in Monroe/West Monroe, LA. People quickly accepted him as a resident, leading to his becoming a citizen. Gerhard, through hard work and determination, managed to aide in the escape of his wife and children from the Russian sector of Berlin, Germany and brought them to the United States. He was a good citizen, a hard working house painter and a dedicated family man."
"Gerhard Paul Herman Kiese was born in Tomnitz, Schlesian, Germany. Outside the village was the family farm, which had been in the family for generations and had its own grave yard. His parents, Paul and Marta, had four children, of which he was the eldest. He had two brothers, Paul and Gunther, as well as a sister, Claire. Claire married Joseph H. Kruse from Silbach. Their son, Seigfried, I think, still runs the family hotel in Silbach. Gunther died in the war. Paul survived and has a daughter, Barbara.
Gerhard married Johanna Marie Henshel, daughter of Herman and Marie Henshel, on Sept. 5, 1934 in Tomnitz, Germany. Their children are Manfred Gerhard Kiese, Barbara Johanna Kiese Michelet and Frank Kiese."
Submitted by John B. Bailey, Jr.: "Gerhard Kiese was born in the mountainous area of Tomnitz, Schlesian, Germany. During the world depression era and the time when Germany was in a turmoil, still recovering from WWI, he made the decision to join Germany's military. As an enlisted man, he was an obedient and loyal soldier who rose to the ranks of sargeant. He was a dedicated defender of Germany and its people but never a NAZI. World War II sent him to service in the famous Rommel's Corps in North Africa, where he was, through his dedication and service, promoted to the officer's rank of Lieutenant. He was captured by U. S. troups, made a prisoner-of-war, and sent to West Monroe, LA to be imprisoned in the war-camp at a site that had been used for city and county fairs and carnivals. During that time, he was instrumental in preventing some U.S. soldiers from deserting their post, which lead to leaving the area. After the war, he was granted dispensation to stay in the U.S. He remained in Monroe/West Monroe, LA. People quickly accepted him as a resident, leading to his becoming a citizen. Gerhard, through hard work and determination, managed to aide in the escape of his wife and children from the Russian sector of Berlin, Germany and brought them to the United States. He was a good citizen, a hard working house painter and a dedicated family man."
