More detail on this person: COL. JAMES HEGDAHL U.S. Army, Retired James Hegdahl, of Henderson, passed away Oct. 20, 2015, at Nathan Adelson Hospice, in Las Vegas. Jim was born Sept. 5, 1932, in Howard, S.D. He graduated from University of South Dakota with a BA in accounting. He was a past president of SAE fraternity. Upon graduation in 1954, Jim was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Jim met and married Connie Kravitz, daughter of Col. and Mrs. James Kravitz of Riverside, Calif., in Aschaffenburg, Germany, in 1959. During his 26 years in military service, Jim spent over 17 years as an Army aviator. He attended the Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He earned an MBA/Comptrollership in 1973 from Syracuse University. Jim served in Korea, Thailand, two tours of duty in Vietnam and two tours of duty in Germany. His military decorations include four Legions of Merit, The Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor, Seventeen Air Medals, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Thailand Air Force Pilot Badge, Master Army Aviator Wings and numerous service ribbons. Upon retirement from the Army, Jim began a second career, accepting a position on the corporate staff of the Institute for Defense Analyses, located in Alexandria, Va. IDA was formed as an independent arm of Congress to oversee government procurements to determine whether the proposed military contracts (aircraft, tanks, weapons, etc.) were worthy of the funds requested. After retiring from IDA after 15 years, the Hegdahls moved to Nevada. Jim was a member of MOAA and served as treasurer for several years. He was also a member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, a 55-year member of the Army Aviation Association, as well as a member of the Army Otter-Caribou Association. Jim was also a life long member of the SD Masonic Lodge. He remained an avid Washington Redskins fan throughout his life. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Ellen (nee Fjellestad) and Hjalmer Hegdahl; two brothers, Harold and Gordon; and four sisters, Ardis Jukam, Clarice Swanson, Phyllis Hegdahl and Mildred Koepsell. Jim is survived by his wife, of 56 years, Connie; and by his daughters, Kari Marie and Theresa Lee. Services will be at 11:20 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Chapel and Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive, Boulder City. Following the service, there will be a celebration of life at the Boulder Creek Golf Course, 1501 Veterans Memorial Drive. In lieu of flowers, donations be made to fisherhouse.org, woundedwarriorprojesct.org or a charity of your choice.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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