ries for Kenneth, Elsie and James.) John was born  in Decorah. He graduated from Decorah High School and worked for Anundsen Publishing Co. before entering the Army Air Force in 1949. John married Margaret Reed (an English girl he met while serving in England) 29 Nov 1953 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. John and Margaret have 5 children: Doreen; Stephen; Julie; David; and Christine. John worked as a mechanic until his retirement. John and Margaret moved to Canada in 1963 so Margaret could be closer to her brother. John spends much of his retirement time working in his greenhouse and passing his gardening expertise on to residents of two nursing homes.

August and Marie were members of First Lutheran Church in Decorah and also belonged to the American Legion. August was a carpenter and skilled cabinet maker. Marie taught school in the Decorah schools for many years. August was killed in a car accident 27 Oct 1944 and Marie died 12 Sep 1951 following a long bout with cancer. James was only 11 years old when his mother passed away. He lived with his brother Kenneth’s family until he graduated from Luther. August and Marie always had a very large garden and Marie preserved an entire winter's supply of vegetables, especially during the hard times in the 1930’s.

Moen, James and Sharon (Baker)

(James Moen)

I am James Jim” Arthur Moen, born in Decorah to August and Marie (Bakke) Moen. I was educated in the county schools, graduated from Decorah High School in 1958 and attended Luther College, graduating in Jun 1963.1 married Sharon Lee Baker (daughter of Robert and Dorothy Baker, Madison Twp.) 29 Dec 1962 at First Lutheran Church, Decorah. Our first home was in West Decorah while I completed the requirements for my bachelor of economics degree at Luther.

Because of the war in Viet Nam I was number one in the county draft to become a “point guard" in the Army. I took the Air Force Officer Oualification Test in Nov 1962, passed with flying colors, and enlisted in the United States Air Force Officer Training School 27 Jun 1963, for a period of 4 years. I received my commission as a reserve second lieutenant in the Air Force on 24 Sep 1963. I attended supply school in Amarillo, TX from 1 Nov 1963 to 10 Jan 1964. From supply school Sharon and I traveled to our first assignment at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base (AFB) in Cheyenne, WY Our son Michael Robert was born in Cheyenne. Follow-on assignments took us to Yokota Air Base (AB) in Tokyo, Japan; Bien Hoa AB in Viet Nam where I was an advisor to the Vietnamese Air Force during the Vietnamization process; Langley AFB, VA where our daughter Nicole Lee was born 7 Dec 1973; Maxwell Air Force Base, AL where I attended the Air Command and Staff College and Auburn University to obtain my Masters of Business Administration degree: George AFB, CA where I commanded a supply squadron; Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein AB, Germany; back to Langley AFB where I was promoted to the grade of full colonel in Oct 1983; to Seymour

Johnson AFB at Goldsboro, NC; back to Langley AFB; to Myrtle Beach AFB, SC from where I retired 1 May 1993 after 30 years in the Air Force.

Left to right: James Edward, Nicole, Mike, Sharon, Kelly and Jim Moen.

The tour at Myrtle Beach was full of many surprises including a 7 month tour of duty as the base commander at King Fahd AB, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. I later served as the wing commander to close the 354th Fighter Wing and Myrtle Beach AFB and did so on 3I Mar 1993.

While at Myrtle Beach Sharon and I became grandparents as our son Mike and his wife Kelly presented us with our first grandchild, James Edward, named after both grandfathers. Upon retirement Sharon and I had a house built at 5304 Harrington Grove Drive in Raleigh, NC and that is where we currently reside. Sharon enjoys her time with her projects around the house and taking care of our two grandsons. Mike and Kelly had a second son Matthew Robert. Nicole graduated from the University of South Carolina May 1994 and is currently a 5th year student, studying to receive another degree, this time in psychology. Mike was awarded his masters degree in Accounting from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC Dec 1991. He has earned his Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant certificates and works for IBM. I am currently the Director of Transportation for the Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, NC.

Moen, Johannes and Synneve (Dybevik)

(Kenneth Moen)

Johannes A. Moen was born 18 Dec 1846 near Vang, Valdres, Norway to Amund Endresen Tveidtmoen (5 Sep 1810-27 Jun 1884) and Guri Haugen Johannesdtr (1814-11 Mar 1900). He was baptized and confirmed in the Hore Church in Valdres. Johannes came to America in 1864 with his family. His brothers and sisters were: Beret (1838-1920); Marit (1841-1850); Endre (1841-1864); Ingeborg (1844-1926); Gunder (1850-1936); Ivor (1853-1901); Amund (b. 1855); and Beret (b. 1859).

Johannes's brother Endre came to America in 1861 and was paid $300 to take another man's place in the Union Army. Endre was killed during Sherman's March on Atlanta in the fall of 1864.