More detail on this person: SELMER A. SUNDBY SELMER A. SUNDBY Daily Press (Newport News, VA) - Friday, January 2, 2004 NEWPORT NEWS - Retired Army Colonel Selmer A. Sundby, 79, of 119 Linda Drive, whose military career spanned more than 30 years, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003. He was a veteran of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Colonel Sundby was born in Canton, S.D. He entered the Army as an enlisted man in 1943. He was commissioned in the Infantry in Europe during WWII. His initial commissioned assignments were in Infantry Training Centers and later with the 11th Airborne Division where he qualified as parachutist and glider man. He commanded a parachute infantry company as a Lieutenant until he attended flight school. After flight school, Colonel Sundby was assigned to the first ever cargo helicopter company in the Army which pioneered the use of cargo helicopters while serving in Korea. After Korea, he was assigned to the Army Transportation Research and Development Command at Fort Eustis for four years. He was recognized for test flying one man experimental helicopters. He also participated in the early introduction, testing, and operating of large cargo helicopters. Colonel Sundby later served two more tours at Fort Eustis in the Transportation School where he was the Director of Instruction and later the Director of Aviation Maintenance Training (now the Aviation Logistics School). While at Fort Monroe in Research and Development, he served as the project manager on the Cheyenne Helicopter. Colonel Sundby was awarded the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with two additional awards, the Good Conduct Medal for enlisted service, numerous service medals and three foreign medals. He earned the Air Force Liaison Pilot Wings, Master Army Aviator Badge, Senior Parachute Badge, and the Glider Badge. Colonel Sundby was a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and received a Master's degree from George Washington University. He is also a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College plus many Aviation schools and Transportation schools. He also trained with the civilian helicopter industry for one year while in the Army. After military service, he worked for Bell Helicopter International for five years in Iran and later for Hughes Helicopters in Kenya and at Fort Eustis. He is a member of the Infantry Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame at Fort Benning and a Distinguished member of the Transportation Corps Regiment. He was a lifetime member of the Army Aviation Association of America, The Retired Officers Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Association of the United States Army and Silent Wings. He is a Past President of The Army Transportation Museum Foundation, and Past President of the local chapter of the Retired Officer's Association. He was a member of Reformation Lutheran Church. Survivors include his wife, Peggy Laughren Sundby, at the home address, and three daughters, Karen S. Burford-Wyffels and Jeff Wyffels of Birmingham, Ala., Kathleen R. Sundby of Virginia Beach, Va., Cindy S. Harris and Kevan Harris of Blacksburg, Va.; grandchildren, Whitney Burford, Justin Burford, Regan Burford, Luke Harris, and Kyle Harris. Other relatives, Donald Sundby, brother, Arlene S. Broadbent; sister, Doris S. Backus; sister, all of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Leone S. Thompson, sister, of Omaha, Neb. Other relatives include extended family members in Norway. The family will receive friends and relatives from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, at Weymouth Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 3, at the Regimental Chapel, Fort Eustis, Va. Interment will be held at 3 p.m., Monday, Feb. 9, at Arlington National Cemetery with Full Military Honors. Memorials may be made to the Army Transportation Museum Foundation, Drawer D, Fort Eustis, A 23604-0320, and Reformation Lutheran Church, Building Fund, 13100 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23602.
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 09/03/2020
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