Arnold L. Bjorklund

Infobox Military Person
name=Arnold L. Bjorklund
born=birth date|1918|4|14
died=death date and age|1979|11|28|1918|4|14
placeofbirth=Clinton, Washington
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=
rank=First Lieutenant
commands=
unit=36th Infantry Division
battles=World War II
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=

Arnold L. Bjorklund (April 14, 1918 – November 28, 1979) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Biography

Bjorklund joined the Army from Seattle, Washington, and by September 13, 1943 was serving as a first lieutenant in the 36th Infantry Division. On that day, near Altavilla, Italy, he single-handedly attacked and destroyed two German machine gun emplacements and a mortar position. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor a year later, on September 6, 1944.

Bjorklund left the Army while still a first lieutenant. He died at age 61 and was buried in Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon.

Medal of Honor citation

First Lieutenant Bjorklund's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Altavilla, Italy, September 13, 1943. When his company attacked a German position on Hill 424, the first platoon, led by 1st Lt. Bjorklund, moved forward on the right flank to the slope of the hill where it was pinned down by a heavy concentration of machinegun and rifle fire. Ordering his men to give covering fire, with only 3 hand grenades, he crept and crawled forward to a German machinegun position located on a terrace along the forward slope. Approaching within a few yards of the position, and while continuously exposed to enemy fire, he hurled 1 grenade into the nest, destroyed the gun and killed 3 Germans. Discovering a second machinegun 20 yards to the right on a higher terrace, he moved under intense enemy fire to a point within a few yards and threw a second grenade into this position, destroying it and killing 2 more Germans. The first platoon was then able to advance 150 yards further up the slope to the crest of the hill, but was again stopped by the fire from a heavy enemy mortar on the reverse slope. 1st Lt. Bjorklund located the mortar and worked his way under little cover to within 10 yards of its position and threw his third grenade, destroying the mortar, killing 2 of the Germans, and forcing the remaining 3 to flee. His actions permitted the platoon to take its objective.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

References

*findagrave|8041744 Retrieved on 2008-02-26

*cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (A-F)
work = Medal of Honor Citations
date = July 16, 2007
url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-a-f.html
accessdate = 2008-02-26

Persondata
NAME= Bjorklund, Arnold L.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=