Valerian Eikmeier was drafted and left to serve in the Army on August 20, 1942. He was the second in the Eikmeier family to serve, as his older brother Harold was the first to be drafted in the time of war.  He reported to Ft. Crook, Omaha, then was sent to Ft. Leavenworth, KS and eventually to Ft. Bliss, TX for his basic training.  Valerian was assigned to the 531st Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion.  While at Ft. Bliss he was able to make a trip to Ft. Barkeley to see his older brother Harold.

     In December Valerian's troop was transported by train to Indio, California; which was little more than desert, dunes and scrub brush.  His Battalion traveled by truck another 100 miles into more desert, where they assisted in building a camp for desert training.  The Battalion was sent to Richmond Army Air Base in Virginia.  After this training, Valerian had a two week furlough back home, before being sent to Ft. Devens, Maine in October, 1943.  During this phase of his training he had his last opportunity to meet his brother Harold, this time at Ft. Dix, New Jersey.  Although neither knew their future, this would be the last meeting between the two brothers.

     Training at Ft. Devens essentially was to prepare for overseas movement and to be "at the ready" at any time to ship out.  On February 12, 1944, 17 months after being drafted, Valerian and his battalion boarded the British ship, Empress of Australia, and left for England.  Valerian and Harold made one last attempt to locate each other while in England, but based upon the tremendous amount of troop transports and locations, they were unsuccessful.

     A few days after D-Day, June 5, 1944 the battalion went to the marshalling area; where again they sat and waited nervously. "There was none of the confusion that characterized so many other places.  We knew why we were there and where we were going...",June 15 D+9 was the day.When his battalion reached the beaches of France, the most notable scene was not combat, rather the red sand from what had occurred days earlier.  The trucks slowly moved over the debris littered sand and up the sloping road to the cliff tops, when they first were confronted with combat.  They continued forward to shell flattened Isigny and then to Normandy.  The 531st became attached to the 30th Division. Valerian's primary role was to drive the HQ Battery Sergeant, delivering clothing and repairs up to Headquarters.  Usually they were able to stay a couple of miles behind the front lines.  During this time, Valerian's unit was involved in a battle near St. Lo.  Only later did he find out that his brother Harold was also involved in a battle near there.  On July 9 Harold was killed in action.  Valerian did not learn of this event until he began to receive the letters he had sent to Harold back at mail call. The exact day Valerian realized his brother's passing is not known, however it must have been several weeks, possibly months later, as the letters sent were first transported to New York and then back to Valerian.

     Soon thereafter troops again began rolling towards the Rhine.  This crossing was considered the biggest event since the invasion of Normandy.  In mid March the crossing began and rapidly moved forward.  The beginning of the end.  Combat for Valerian and the 531st ended in mid April when the Battalion met up with the Russians.  On May 8, 1945 the war in Europe was victoriously declared over.

     Valerian returned to the States on September 25, when he reported to Norfolk, Virginia.  A troop train transported many of those from Nebraska, Iowa and adjacent states to Ft. Leavenworth, KS.  He was discharged on October 20, 1945, 38 months after his initial entry into the armed services.  He maintained contact with several of his fellow troops from the Midwest, frequently visiting with them over the years at each others home as well as at reunions of the 531st.  After military service he resumed his courtship with his loyal sweetheart Coletta Hunke.  They were married the following May 1, 1946.  The marriage was blessed with four boys; Gerald, Donald, Bernie and James.  The couple farmed for the next four decades; during the last decade transitioning much of the work to his sons, Gerald and Bernie.  Valerian was followed into the military by two of his sons, Gerald and Donald and grandson Nathan.  Valerian passed away on October 19, 2009 at the age of 88.