The Norwegian World War 2 Defence Medal

Deltagermedaljen

On Saturday, May 28, 2011, 15 of the surviving members of the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) of the U.S. Army were awarded the Norwegian World War II Defense Medal (Deltagermedaljen) for their fight against the German occupation of Norway.

The medal was awarded by the Norwegian Chief of Defense, General Harald Sunde, as a part of his official visit to the United States, during a ceremony at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C.  All photos by Tom Graves, Bill Hoffland or Erik Wiborg unless otherwise noted.

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Norwegian World War 2 Medal

The 15 99ers that attended the ceremony at the Norwegian Embassy on 28th May 2011:  Hadley Jenson, Bill Burke, Robert Chapman, Robert Bjorgum, Richard Lumpp, Sigvard "Sigge" Johnson, Wilfred Jacobsen, Robert Snodgrass, Norwegian Chief of Armed Forces General Harald Sunde, Embassador Wegger Chr. Strommen, Jarvis Taylor, Richard Wesserling, Lester Carlson, Theodore "Teddy" Pedersen, Kristian Brun, Alf Berg and Herbert Bjerke.  Photo: Christian Nørstebø / Forsvaret
Text Box: Visit at the Iwo Jima Memorial Text Box: Above, 99er Bill Burke and 99er son Harlan Hanson. Below, 99er Kristian Brun and his son Erik Text Box: Robert Bjorgum Text Box: Alf Berg Text Box: Above, Hadley Jenson with Norwegian Chief of Defence, General Harald Sunde. Text Box: Herbert Bjerke Text Box: Robert Snodgrass receiving his medal. Photo: Christian Nørstebø / Forsvaret Text Box: Above Photo: Christian Nørstebø / Forsvaret Text Box: Norwegian WW2 veteran Thor Treider with 99er Jarvis Taylor. Text Box: Norwegian photographer Sturlason donated prints of their famous photograph taken on 7th June 1945. Text Box: 99er Jarvis Taylor with Adm (ret) Egil Eikanger from Norway. Text Box: Richard Lumpp with Bill Hoffland Text Box: Lester Carlson and Herbert Bjerke Text Box: Erik and Kristian Brun Text Box: Above, Hadley Jenson and Robert Snodgrass posing with Col. Hojem from the Norwegian Army. On right, actor Gary Sinise and Norwegian Chief of Defence, General Harald Sunde rubbing shoulders with 99er veterans Hadley Jenson and Robert Snodgrass.

On Saturday 9th July 2011 four Florida 99ers were awarded their Norwegian World War 2 Defence Medal onboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship “Oasis of the Seas”.  The medals were awarded by Consul General of Norway, Dr. Jostein Mykletun.
Text Box: From left: Wilfred Jacobsen, Ove Bjelland, Bjarne Kvingedal and Olen Palmer. Text Box: Below: Consul General of Norway, Dr. Jostein Mykletun

View more videos at: http://www.nbcmiami.com.

Text Box: Below, Bjarne Kvingedal featured on NBC Miami.
Text Box: Below, Leif Oistad featured on Channel 12 News KBMT. Text Box: Lester Carlson, Hadley Jenson, Robert Bjorgum, webmaster Erik Wiborg and Richard Wesserling Text Box: Sigvard “Sigge” Johnson with his good friend Admiral Gary Roughhead, Chief of Naval Operations. Text Box: Lester Carlson receiving his medal from General Sunde. Text Box: Wilfred Jacobsen with daughter in law Terri and his son Alan. Text Box: Lester Carlson and Herbert Bjerke Text Box: Hadley Jenson with his daughters Joy and Kathie.

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