Arnold O. Dahl
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Photo: Arnold Dahl, on the right, with his friend, Mr. Cook, in Arnstadt, Germany.
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Arnold O. Dahl
My. Dahl enlisted in the Army Air Corps July 11, 1942
Home at entry: Two Harbors, Minn.
Served as a Sergeant and airplance and engine mechanc with the 644 Bomb Squadron of the 410th Bomb Group in the air offensive in Europe.
Served in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Ardennes.
Awarded:
Good Conduct Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and
two overseas service bars.
Honorably discharged October 13, 1946, Camp McCoy, Wis.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 63.
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Arnold O. Dahl served in World War II in the European Theater.
Despite two physicians advising him against it, he served in the U.S. Army, from November 14, 1942, until February 12, 1946. Mr. Dahl was assigned to the Service Company of the 406th Infantry Regiment of the 102nd Division.
His rank was Technical Sergeant 4th Class.
Mr. Dahl was decorated with two Battle Stars and one Bronze Star.
He was born in Cromwell, Minnesota, the son of Peter and Minnie Dahl.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“February 1942, I was called to take my physical. The doctor told me to go home, that I wouldn’t live to be forty years old.
“Then in November of 1942, I was called up again. A different doctor. I was sent to Fort Snelling. The doctor there said I could go home. I said I wasn’t going home. With much argument, he signed me in. So I say I enlisted.
“I was assigned to the 102nd Infantry Division. I went on to earn two battle stars and the Bronze Star. Am now ninety-six.”
