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<em>John Harland Swenson</em> was born to John and Johanna Marie (Nelson) Swenson on their farm in Kandyohi County, MN. The family later moved to western South Dakota in 1924. In transition from one school to the other, he graduated from grade school with precious litde time in either the seventh or the eighth grades.</p>
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Another move resulted in graduation from high school in Faith, SD, in just three and a half years with the class of 1929. He matriculated to the South Dakota College of Agriculture that fall and pursued a course in agricultural engineering intermittendy as the depression economics and the demands of the family ranch permitted. Then in 1934, South Dakota Congressman Theodore B. Werner, 2d district, appointed him to USMA. The voids in his education haunted him through the academic part of the academy experience.</p>
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In spite of his struggles with academics, he found time to indulge in skiing and was one of the few who labored to develop a ski run and jump. He also was a member of the horse show team. As one of the mule riders during football games, part ofhis claim to fame included trick riding on the back of old Queeny.</p>
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At the end of graduation leave, he married Edith Hazel Danielson in Lead, SD. To this union were born two sons: John D., who joined the ranching enterprise after retirement, and Edward J., a member of the Class of ’69.</p>
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Early service with the 4th Cavalry, at Ft. Meade, SD, gave him a taste of the good life and peacetime in mounted Cavalry. A high point of that tour was the winning of the Draper Trophy for Cavalry platoon leadership. The low point was the conversion of the regiment to a mechanize Cavalry reconnaissance unit.</p>
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His time at the Basic Cavalry School was cut short by orders to transfer to a new course for commanders in the Infantry, Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Troops. This was followed by assignment to the newly reorganized 82d Infantry Division. The conversion of the 82d to an Airborne Division made him a "fish out of water," but he progressed to command the 2d Battalion, 325th Glider Infantry. That assignment ended when John was severely wound while leading the attack on the enemy position at Le Ham in Normandy. For his bravery in battle, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the French <em>Croix de Guerre avec Palme et Foregiere,</em> as well as the Purple Heart.</p>
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Fitzsimmons General Hospital accomplished John’s physical restoration and recovery after WWII. A period of limited service followed, during which John attended CGSC at Ft. Leavenworth. He later was retained as an instructor. Graduate study at the University of Southern California to earn masters degree in aeronautics and guided missiles followed. Then came a tour in the research and development branch of the Army General Staff. This was terminated by a diagnosis of tuberculosis and a return to Fitszimmons General Hospital.</p>
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After a period of temporary disability retirement, John was assigned to the Anti-Aircraft Artillery School at Ft. Bliss, TX, where, for a time, he headed the Guided Missile Department. Then he returned to the Pentagon for a repeat tour with Army research and development, followed by tours in the Department of Defense, R&D, and the Weapon Systems Evaluation Group.</p>
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A break from the Pentagon gave him a year at the Naval War College and service as the deputy brigade commander, 1st Cavalry Division, in Korea. Washington called again for a repeat tour with the Weapons Systems Evaluation Group, followed by tours in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff G-2, and the Joint Defense Systems Integration Planning Staff, an adjunct of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During these tours he was awarded the Legion of Merit three times.</p>
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After retirement, he and Edith returned to her family ranch in the Bear Lodge Mountains near Sundance, WY, and rehabilitated the old ranch house. Edith found satisfaction in nostalgic connections with her childhood, and John revived his interest in ranch management and operations. Edith passed way in 1997 and was interred at the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD.</p>