Brandanger, Palmer and Elmer collection

Palmer J Brandanger, WWII

Palmer Joseph Brandanger was born to Edward and Helga Aanvik Johnson Brandanger. He was born in Terrace, Pope County, Minnesota on February 4, 1918. He was a second generation Norwegian born in Terrace from proud Norwegian immigrants. He attended Terrace Country School and achieved an eighth-grade education. He attended Chippewa Falls Lutheran Church and was confirmed in 1933. He attended Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis in 1935.

Palmer married Mary McDougle on August 30, 1941 in Terrace, Minnesota.

Palmer arrived Fort Snelling Co. 2, Reception Center January 1942.

He went to Camp Robinson, Arkansas in February, 1942.

Medical Corps training Camp

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)

Medical Basic – #657

Basic and Specialized training 8 weeks (instead of 12 weeks because the military needed men faster after Pearl Harbor)

Medical Recruit Training Center, attached to Company A, 103 Battalion, MRTC 2 nd Platoon.

From there he went to Camp Hulen, Texas the beginning of April, 1942.

Promoted to Corporal, May 1942 and temporary promotion to Staff Sargent, July 1942.

MOS – Medical NCO #673.

Fort Snelling, Camp Robinson, and Camp Hulen accounted for 6 months of training.

SSgt Palmer Brandanger departed Texas July, 1942 and arrived in Fort Dix, New Jersey July 1942.

Boarded US Transport Wakefield August, 1942 for deployment to Europe Theatre.

Arrived Grenock, Scotland August, 1942

Arrived Reading, England August, 1942

Departed Liverpool, England November, 1942

Arrived St. Andras, Algeria November, 1942

Departed Oran, Algeria October, 1943

Arrived Bagnoli, Italy (Naples) October, 1943

Departed Italy September, 1945

Arrived Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia September 1945

Discharged Camp McCoy, Wisconsin September 1945

Arrived home September 19 th 1945 after 3 years and 8 months serving his country.

SSgt Brandanger served in the following battles and campaigns: Tunsia, Naples-Foggia, Rome Arno, Northern Apennines, and Po Valley. He received a Good Conduct medal, European – African – Middle Eastern Theatre Service Medal - three-part medal (earned at each landing) 6 overseas bars (one for each 6 months of overseas service). From the 100’s of pictures we know that he was in Gaeta, Siene, Cassino, Rome, Florence, Pompeii, Stresa and Venice. Palmer and Mary purchased a farm outside of Terrace and began their family of 4 children there. Palmer farmed and worked at the Terrace Mill making church furniture. They moved to Minneapolis in 1959. Palmer worked at Minneapolis Allied Van and Warehouse until 1979. Palmer passed away on December 18, 1985 in Fridley, Minnesota. He is buried at Hillside Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Prepared by Judy Brandanger Gillette

2024

Elmer H Brandanger, 47ID, Korea

Elmer Henry Brandanger was born in Terrace, Minnesota on June 23, 1929. His parents were Edward and Helga Aanvik Johnson Brandanger. He attended elementary school in Terrace and attended 1 year of high school in Glenwood before becoming a farmer full time. He was a member of Chippewa Falls Lutheran Church and was confirmed there.

Elmer joined the National Guard on June 23, 1948. The 47 th Viking Division was called into active service that July. He trained at Camp Rucker, Alabama and Camp Stoneman, California and was sent overseas on August 26 th . Elmer was sent to Korea as a replacement, after a 3 day stay at Camp Douke in Japan.

On November 24th 1951 Sgt. Brandanger was sent into battle and was hit by an exploding mortar shell in action on hill 317 and died instantly. (Some paperwork states Location or Battle Zone: Little Gibralter, Hill or Outpost: Hill 355)

Sergeant Brandanger’s remains arrived in Glenwood on February 21 st and was buried with full military honors in the Chippewa Falls Lutheran cemetery in Terrace on February 23, 1952. Along with being the first Pope County soldier to give his life in the Korean War he was also the first veteran to be buried in the Terrace cemetery who died in action.

Sergeant Brandanger was a member of the 15 th Infantry Regiment, 3 rd Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

A friend of Elmer’s in Korea wrote a book about his experiences in Korea, KOREA WE CALLED IT WAR by Denzil Batson. He mentions Elmer and his death. Mr. Batson was contacted by a man named John Gilbert who wanted to produce a film documentary on this book. It was produced in 2002 and is called KOREA WE CALLED IT WAR, a FEATURE DOCUMENTARY, The Untold Story of the Combat Infantry in Korea.

At the request of the family in 2017, Pope County, Minnesota was asked to name the historic bridge in Terrace the Elmer Brandanger Bridge. The commissioners honored this request stating “The stone arch bridge on Old Mill Pond Road over the Chippewa River in Chippewa Falls Township be designated as “Sergeant Elmer Brandanger Bridge”. This was adopted on 04/24/2017 and a ceremony was celebrated in church services and at his grave site on August 6, 2017.

Prepared by Judy Brandanger Gillette

2024