David A. Hedland

World War II
-
Fallen

Englevale, ND

County:
Ransom

Date of Loss:

Branch of Service:
Army

Rank:
PFC

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent:
119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division

Circumstances:

David Arnold Hedland entered the US Army at Ft. MacArthur Los Angeles, California on 12 January 1944. After his training on September 6, 1944 he joined, as "BAR gunner", the 3rd squad of the 1st platoon of the G Company of the 119th Infantry Regiment - 30th Infantry Division (Old Hickory). The BAR was the machine gun of the group.

PFC David Arnold Hedland Served with the 3rd 'squad' of the '1st platoon' of the 'G Company’ of the 119th Infantry Regiment (30th Old Hickory Division) and was with the first group of American soldiers to enter and to liberate Eygelshoven Netherland on 26 September 1944.

The "squad leader" John M. Nolan (10-4-1923 / 9-6-2019; he retired as a colonel in 1972) writes this in his memoirs.
see http://www.oldhickory30th.com/119th%20Co%20G%20Eygelshoven%20by%20Nolan.pdf

PFC David Arnold Hedland was one of the men who entered and liberated Eygelshoven on 26 September 1944 and stayed there before entering Germany. David Arnold Hedland died on November 20, 1944 in Freialdenhoven; a hamlet between Ubach Palenberg and Jülich in Germany.
After his death, a memorial service was held for him in Cass County North Dakota on January 7, 1945.
David Arnold Hedland is buried in the American Military Cemetery of Margraten,Netherlands, Holland plot L, row 14, grave 8

Name included on page 577 of the Register of North Dakota Veterans WWII.

Name included on the All Veterans Memorial on the North Dakota State Capitol Grounds Bismarck ND. Included with Ransom County.

Biography:

Buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial. PFC David Arnold Hedland, the youngest of 8 children, was born near Kindred in Normanna Township, Cass County, North Dakota on January 2, 1910 to parents August Hedland (born in Sweden) and Anette Maria (Ask) Hedland (born in Norway). They lived in Pleasant Township, Cass County, North Dakota. David Arnold Hedland was married on October 23, 1933 to Bernice E. Hedland (born Stevens on 4-6-1914) of Walcott, North Dakota. They had four children: Betty Ann (died in infancy 11/18/1937--12/31/1938 Buried at Normanna Township, Cass County ND), Marlys Annette, Duane Ardell and Robert Dale. According to the US Census and his surviving family: David first worked on a farm from 1933-1939. He moved his family to Englevale, Ransom County, North Dakota in 1939 where they ran a cafe. Early 1942 he went to Los Angeles California where he engaged in defense work. He was inducted into the Army on January 12, 1944. From the Census: in 1930 Mr Hedland lived in Normanna Township, Cass County North Dakota in 1935 in Richland County, North Dakota in 1940 in Hanson Township, Ransom County, North Dakota. His last known residence before entering miltary service was Ransom County, North Dakota.