Memorial Day 2011 we remember our cousin, Joe Paul Swendsen.

We mourn his death and celebrate his life.

Joe had a strong belief in both family and country. He chose to honor his grandfathers who had served before him by volunteering to serve in the Air National Guard. As part of his duty, he took time out from college to go on a special assignment to Diego Garcia, supplying necessities to the troops in Afghanistan. It was hot and humid in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and Joe hated the spiders, but he befriended the geckos in the shower. That was Joe.

He later continued his tradition of service to our country as an Air Traffic Controller. He graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a degree in Air Traffic Control and started that career in Rockford, IL. He earned a transfer to the Minneapolis airport in October of 2010 and that is where he was currently working. He was really happy with his career and talked about it a lot. His co-workers there are surprised and saddened by his death.

Joe, you will be missed.
- Rog

Memorial Day 2011

As an annual tribute, I am publishing this page again to the memory of the following members of our families who are no longer with us, but did not hesitate to serve when their countries needed them. Sadly, the list keeps growing.

My wife's Great-great-great-great grandfather:
Woody Jones - Served with Andrew Jackson in Louisiana, War of 1812 †
Her Great-great-great-great Uncle
Wiley Jones - Served with Andrew Jackson in Louisiana, War of 1812 †


My wife's great-great grandfathers:
Samuel Runnels - 39th Mississippi Infantry, Battle of Vicksburg †
Robert J. Jones - 4th Mississippi Cavalry †


My Great-Grandfather:
Christen Godskesen – Royal Danish Army, Second Schleswig War of 1864 †

My wife's grandfather:
Alonzo Runnels - US Army, WWI †

My Grandfather:
Christian Martinus Swendsen – Royal Danish Army †

My Great-Uncle:
Oluf Swendsen – Royal Danish Army †

My Uncles:
Paul Swendsen - US Army forward artillery spotter - Europe, WWII †
Carl Swendsen - US Army, WWII †
Roy Swendsen - US Army Air Corp, South Pacific, WWII †
Henry Godskesen - US Army Engineering Corp, WWII †

My Father-In-Law:
Charlie Runnels - US Navy, Korea †

My cousin:
Harlan Roy Swendsen - US Navy, Vietnam †

My Brother-in-law:
Carlos Hernandez - US Army Huey Helicopter Crewman, Vietnam †

My cousin:
Joe Swendsen - Minnesota Air National Guard, Diego Garcia Airlift Command †

For all you did for us....we remember

Christen Godskesen, Second Schleswig War of 1864

My Great-great Grandfather Christen Godskesen, B 1837 - D 1906.

Christen served in the Royal Danish Army during the War with Germany in 1864. At the time, he was 26 years old, and Denmark had compulsory military service for all men.

The war began on 1 February 1864, when Prussian forces crossed the border into Schleswig.Denmark fought Prussia and Austria.

Reasons for the war were the ethnic controversy in Schleswig and the co-existence of conflicting political systems within the Danish unitary state.

The war ended on 30 October 1864, when the Treaty of Vienna caused Denmark's cession of the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and Saxe-Lauenburg to Prussia and Austria.

Returning home after the War, Christen must have decided to get on with his life, and married Karen Jensdatter in December of that year.

I have the medal he received for his service in the War, which is one of my most prized possessions.


-Rog