Steven Brudevold
1949-07-12 1978-05-14
Died at the age of 28. After graduation from high school Steven attended the University of Minnesota School of Forestry. About halfway through his degree, he decided to take a break to reflect on his degree choice. Unfortunately, the draft lottery came out and his lottery number was #15. He had to make a quick choice before he was drafted by the Army. He enlisted in the Navy in 1970 and trained to be an aviation mechanic. His final rank was ADJ-2, or "Aviation Jet Engine Mechanic Second Class".
Steven served the entire time as a jet engine mechanic for Attack Squadron VA-75, "The Sunday Punchers", who flew A-6 Intruder jet aircraft. He was on two cruises aboard the USS Saratoga Aircraft Carrier (CVA-60) to the Mediterranean Sea. His squadron was called to Vietnam aboard the Saratoga in April, 1972, and was involved in Operation Linebacker until a cease-fire was signed in January of 1973.
In 1974 Steven finished up his four years in the Navy and went back to finish his degree at the University of Minnesota School of Forestry. He received his degree in December, 1976.
Steven was a "Hot Shot Firefighter" for the U.S. Government, being trained to go anywhere in the U.S.A. at short notice to emergency situations. He landed his first Forestry job in Minnesota as a "Timber Cruiser" (surveying forests and marking the trees that could be harvested). When he moved to Ely, MN he had finally been designated "First Class Forester", and therefore had finally "arrived" at what he set out to do.
Steven Brudevold passed away on May 14, 1978. Steven was killed in a motorcycle accident driving from Duluth (where he had been at a conference meeting) back home to Ely. His fiancee planted over 20,000 Red Pines in his memory. She is a forester, as is her husband and they live on 80 acres north of Duluth. They have named their Red Pines "The Brudevold Forest." Last summer I was able to reconnect with Steven's fiancee after 38 years and see the forest. What a beautiful tribute to my brother.
He is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.
Steven served the entire time as a jet engine mechanic for Attack Squadron VA-75, "The Sunday Punchers", who flew A-6 Intruder jet aircraft. He was on two cruises aboard the USS Saratoga Aircraft Carrier (CVA-60) to the Mediterranean Sea. His squadron was called to Vietnam aboard the Saratoga in April, 1972, and was involved in Operation Linebacker until a cease-fire was signed in January of 1973.
In 1974 Steven finished up his four years in the Navy and went back to finish his degree at the University of Minnesota School of Forestry. He received his degree in December, 1976.
Steven was a "Hot Shot Firefighter" for the U.S. Government, being trained to go anywhere in the U.S.A. at short notice to emergency situations. He landed his first Forestry job in Minnesota as a "Timber Cruiser" (surveying forests and marking the trees that could be harvested). When he moved to Ely, MN he had finally been designated "First Class Forester", and therefore had finally "arrived" at what he set out to do.
Steven Brudevold passed away on May 14, 1978. Steven was killed in a motorcycle accident driving from Duluth (where he had been at a conference meeting) back home to Ely. His fiancee planted over 20,000 Red Pines in his memory. She is a forester, as is her husband and they live on 80 acres north of Duluth. They have named their Red Pines "The Brudevold Forest." Last summer I was able to reconnect with Steven's fiancee after 38 years and see the forest. What a beautiful tribute to my brother.
He is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.