Hjelmeng, Elden Sverre 1923 - 1944

HJELMENG, OLSON

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 1/27/2024 at 20:25:54

Clayton County Register, 07 Dec. 1944.

Elden Sverre Hjelmeng, ACOM, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sverre Hjelmeng, was killed in action, according to word received from the Navy department last Thursday.

The message read as follows:

"The Navy department deeply regrets to inform you that your son Elden Sverre Hjelmeng, Chief Aviation Ordnance Man U.S.N., was killed in action while in the service of his country. The department extends its sincerest sympathy in your great loss. On account of existing conditions the body if recovered cannot be returned at present. If further details are received you will be informed. To prevent possible aid to our enemies please do not divulge the name of his ship or station.

Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs
Chief of Naval Personnel."

Hjelmeng entered service in 1941 and received his boot training at the Great Lakes Training station following which he was sent to Jacksonville, Fla., and then Floyd Bennett Field, N.Y., for ordinance training. Following this, he was sent to the Naval Air Technical Training center, Chicago, and from there went to Norfolk, Va., to ship out for the South Pacific.

He was born at Saskatchewan, Canada, Aug. 25, 1923, and when he was three years old came to Clermont with his parents. A year later the family moved to West Union and in October, 1942, came to Elkader. He was graduated from the West Union high school in 1940.

Besides his parents he is survived by a brother, Marion, a senior at Elkader high school, and a grandfather, Martin Olson of Medford, Wis.