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Verland Ohlson ( Missoula 1949 )

posted: Dec 17, 2003

"Swede" Ohlson, 86, died December 7, 2003 at his home in Conway NH. Born in northwestern New York, son of Swedish immigrants who ran logging camps in the
early 1900's, he was drafted in 1941 and served in the First Special Service Force (The Devil's Brigade) in Italy where he was wounded. He was injured during training at Missoula on his 4th jump and did not take part in the 1949 season.

After the war he completed his Forestry education at the University of Montana and worked on the Clearwater N.F. in Idaho before his moving east to the Allegheny, George Washington and White Mountain National Forests. Appointed District Ranger of the Saco Ranger District, WMNF in June 1957, he served 23 years as District Ranger before retirement in1980. Two of his grandchildren are currently smokejumpers.