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James Dale Nygaard

Duluth Central High School, Univ of MN Duluth, Univ of MN

194th Armor, 12 years; 194 Cavalry, 6 years; 204th Medical Battalion 12 years

Army Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/30 year device, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon (4th Award), Meritorious Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Minnesota Commendation Ribbon, Minnesota State Service Medal (35 years)

Command Sergeant Major James Nygaard, 204th Medical Battalion, 47th (Viking) Infantry Division, MNARNG, 1985

Narrative

My military service with the Minnesota Army National Guard began in 1952 after graduating from high School. I joined the 101st Operations Detachment of the 216th Anti-Aircreaft Group at the Duluth Armory on the shore of Lake Superior. The unit's mission was to protect the Duluth harbor and shipping as part of the North American Defense system. After graduating from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1956 I transferred to Company C, 194th Armor in Milaca, MN. My first Annual Training with the unit was at the U.S. Army Armor Center in Ft. Knox, Kentucky in 1957. I was with Co C for twelve years, becoming a tank commander with rank of Platoon Sergeant (E7). Our unit was selected to go to Ft. Greely, Alaska for Northern Warfare Training in 1965 and 1967. In 1968 the 194th Armor was reorganized and became Cavalry. The Milaca unit became Headquarters (Part) Troop as a Medical Platoon, and a Transportation Section. I was assigned as the Medical Platoon sergeant until 1974 when I transferred to Headquarters/Company A of the 204th Medical Battalion in Minneapolis, and later to Cottage Grove. I was promoted to Master Sergeant (E8) in 1974 as Chief Medical NCO until 1979. I attended the Resident Medical Specialist course at the Academy of Health Sciences in Ft. Sam Houston, TX in 1978. During this time frame I became involved with the Winter Operations program at Camp Ripley, which lasted fifteen years. I took part in the US/Norwegian Troop Exchange Program as Medical NCOIC in Torpomoen, Norway in 1979. I was selected as an instructor for the Non-Commissioned Officer Development Program, part of Minnesota Military Academy, from 1977-1991 in various capacities. In 1979 I was promoted to battalion Staff Sergeant Major (E9) until 1981, when I became Command Sergeant Major until 1986. My service continued as Master Sergeant as Patient Administration NCO at State Area Command (STARC) at the St. Paul Armory until 1990, and Chief Medical NCO at 34th (Red Bull) Infantry Division Headquarters in Rosemount to 1994. I retired at age 60 after 42 good years in the MNARNG.