A. Herbert Axelson
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Photo 1: A. Herbert Axelson
Photo 2: Portrait in uniform
Photo 3: Wedding, February 5, 1943
Photo 4: With children
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A. Herbert Axelson was born in Virginia, Minnesota, in 1919, and graduated from high school there.
He received his civil engineering degree from the University of Minnesota and was hired by the National Aeronautical Bureau to design airplanes. That was a draft-exempt position, but he enlisted in the Army during World War II.
After first serving in a medical unit, he transferred an engineering unit and, after training at Fort Belvoir, Virginia was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
He was commander of Company B of the 204th Engineering Combat Battalion, which arrived in Europe soon after the D-Day landings.
He was wounded on Feb. 12, 1945.
He received, among other awards:
Two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star.
He was discharged at the rank of captain on Feb. 16, 1946.
He joined the Oliver Iron Mining Co., a division of U.S. Steel, and later became manager of mining engineering for its Duluth-based operation. He later founded a consulting firm, A. H. Axelson and Associates.
He died on March 8, 1981.
