Meet the Hero: Douglas Hegdahl

Douglas Hegdahl was born on September 3, 1946 in Clark, South Dakota. Being from a small town, Douglas once joked with a reporter that he’d “never been east of [his] uncles’ Dairy Queen stand in Glenwood, Minnesota or west of [his] aunt’s house in Phoenix, Arizona.” So when a military recruiter approached Douglas in the 1960s, he saw an opportunity to see the world, answered the call, and joined United States Navy.

Other Publications You Might Be Interested In

Just an American POW

In January of 1964, Captain Harlan Chapman reported to Marine Fighter Squadron 212 based at Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station, Hawaii.  In 1965, his Squadron deployed with Carrier Air Wing 16 aboard the USS ORISKANY (CVA 34) for combat operations from the South China Sea.  Harlan flew his first combat

Read More »

Vietnam / Fighting / POW

 South Vietnam claims victory near Dak To. Casualties reported United States evacuates 4 fire bases near Saigon for lack of activity. United States helicopter finds Army sergeant Kenneth Gregory wandering in Vietnam jungle Friday Viet Cong claim they released him. Gregory now at Fort Sill, OK.

Read More »