Howard Blehm, 92, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, March 17, 2013 at Neilson Place in Bemidji MN.
Funeral services will be held 11:00a.m., Thursday, March 21, 2013 at Bethel Lutheran Church, Bemidji. Visitation will be 4:00-6:00p.m., Wednesday, March 20 at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.
He entered the US Army in 1941, serving his country for nearly five years. As a Staff Sergeant in the 3rd Regiment of the 77th Division, his platoon is credited as being the first American soldiers to land on Japanese soil, where they raised the first American flag. He was very proud of his service and holds three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Philippines Liberation Medal with Bronze Arrowhead and one Battle Star, the American Defense Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with 3 Bronze Arrowheads and 4 Battle Stars, the Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Expert Rifleman's Badge, the Sharp Shooter's Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He was wounded three times and eventually lost his left arm and right lung. He was an active member of the DAV, serving as ND Commander and many other local, state and national offices. He was also a life-time member of the VFW and the American Legion.
Funeral services will be held 11:00a.m., Thursday, March 21, 2013 at Bethel Lutheran Church, Bemidji. Visitation will be 4:00-6:00p.m., Wednesday, March 20 at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.
He entered the US Army in 1941, serving his country for nearly five years. As a Staff Sergeant in the 3rd Regiment of the 77th Division, his platoon is credited as being the first American soldiers to land on Japanese soil, where they raised the first American flag. He was very proud of his service and holds three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Philippines Liberation Medal with Bronze Arrowhead and one Battle Star, the American Defense Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with 3 Bronze Arrowheads and 4 Battle Stars, the Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Expert Rifleman's Badge, the Sharp Shooter's Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He was wounded three times and eventually lost his left arm and right lung. He was an active member of the DAV, serving as ND Commander and many other local, state and national offices. He was also a life-time member of the VFW and the American Legion.
Howard Blehm, 92, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, March 17, 2013 at Neilson Place in Bemidji MN.
Funeral services will be held 11:00a.m., Thursday, March 21, 2013 at Bethel Lutheran Church, Bemidji. Visitation will be 4:00-6:00p.m., Wednesday, March 20 at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.
He entered the US Army in 1941, serving his country for nearly five years. As a Staff Sergeant in the 3rd Regiment of the 77th Division, his platoon is credited as being the first American soldiers to land on Japanese soil, where they raised the first American flag. He was very proud of his service and holds three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Philippines Liberation Medal with Bronze Arrowhead and one Battle Star, the American Defense Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with 3 Bronze Arrowheads and 4 Battle Stars, the Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Expert Rifleman's Badge, the Sharp Shooter's Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He was wounded three times and eventually lost his left arm and right lung. He was an active member of the DAV, serving as ND Commander and many other local, state and national offices. He was also a life-time member of the VFW and the American Legion.
Funeral services will be held 11:00a.m., Thursday, March 21, 2013 at Bethel Lutheran Church, Bemidji. Visitation will be 4:00-6:00p.m., Wednesday, March 20 at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.
He entered the US Army in 1941, serving his country for nearly five years. As a Staff Sergeant in the 3rd Regiment of the 77th Division, his platoon is credited as being the first American soldiers to land on Japanese soil, where they raised the first American flag. He was very proud of his service and holds three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Philippines Liberation Medal with Bronze Arrowhead and one Battle Star, the American Defense Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with 3 Bronze Arrowheads and 4 Battle Stars, the Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Expert Rifleman's Badge, the Sharp Shooter's Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He was wounded three times and eventually lost his left arm and right lung. He was an active member of the DAV, serving as ND Commander and many other local, state and national offices. He was also a life-time member of the VFW and the American Legion.
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