Students and Faculty in the Military

Honor Roll

Whether it was in the Infantry, the Ambulance Corps, or the Marines, many of St. Cloud Normal School's students, faculty, and alumni served in WWI, including future St. Cloud State president George Selke. This Honor Roll was published in the 1919/20 Normal School course catalog and honors those who served in the war.

Petrus N. Liljedahl

Petrus Liljedahl was the only St. Cloud State graduate to die in combat during WWI. Born in St. Cloud in 1891, Liljedahl left the St. Cloud Normal School in 1915 and was drafted into the United States Army in 1918. After completing basic training in Iowa and Texas, Liljedahl served in France as a member of the Company H, 131 Infantry, 33rd Infantry Divison, A.E.F. On August 9, 1918, Liljedahl was shot and killed while on a reconnaissance mission between his and the enemy's trenches. Liljedahl was one of three students to die during WWI. Claude Campbell died of influenza and Clarence Berry died in an accident at the Naval Air Station in Florida.

Liljedahl was on the 1913 basketball team. He is first individual on the right in the first row.  

To learn more about Liljedahl read this 2017 St. Cloud Times article by local author Bill Morgan.

Women in Military Service

Women of St. Cloud Normal also answered the call to serve. 19 women served during WWI in a variety of ways. Some like Mary Alison Beidler and Helen Calkin served as nurses, while others like Alvena Blanchette and Ruth Crossman served as Canteen Workers. Alvena Blanchette and Afra Myron worked in Reconstruction work and Eva Sorenson served in social service.

St. Cloud "Does its bit"

The St. Cloud Normal School was highlighy involved with WWI homefront activities. Driven by their sense of patriotism and of community, the St. Cloud Normal School became a leader in promoting WWI involvement. Through their direct military service, involvement in volunteer work and organizations, and participation in and contribution to conservation efforts, the St. Cloud Normal School worked hard to "do their bit."