17 Facts About Helmer Swenholt

Helmer Swenholt was born in Wittenberg, Shawano County, Wisconsin.

Helmer Swenholt was an officer and Veteran of World War I, and after the war continued his service in the Army Corps of Engineers.

In World War II, Swenholt organized one of the first of the Engineer Regiments, a new type of combat engineer organization.

At the war's conclusion Helmer Swenholt returned to the United States and retired from the Army.

Helmer Swenholt's father was Jonas Swenholt, who served in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Helmer Swenholt had tied with a teammate for the honor and the election was decided by a coin toss.

Helmer Swenholt became a captain in an engineer company in World War I and was wounded in France in 1918.

Captain Helmer Swenholt worked on the railroad from Murmansk with the Bolsheviks.

Helmer Swenholt briefly visited his hometown and then left for Morgantown, West Virginia for service at the state university.

Helmer Swenholt was assigned to serve as an ROTC engineer instructor at West Virginia University.

Helmer Swenholt was assigned in 1922 to Camp Humphreys, Gary, Indiana, with the engineers in the regular army.

Helmer Swenholt was a Federal instructor with the National Guard unit of Indiana.

Helmer Swenholt was assigned in 1932 to Fort Dupont, Delaware, to organize the Civilian Conservation Corps units to provide housing, food, and medical care in the US National Forest Service in the National Forests in Idaho.

In September 1938 Helmer Swenholt was assigned to command the District Engineer Office, Omaha, Nebraska.

In early 1941 when the Army foresaw the need to begin armament, Major Helmer Swenholt's command was assigned the task of relocating roads, railroads and sewer lines in preparation for building the plant which would make the Martin B-26 Bomber.

Colonel Helmer Swenholt commanded the 332nd Engineer General Service Regiment until 28 November 1945 when he retired from the Army.

Colonel Helmer Swenholt died 8 May 1952 in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona.