James Harrison Aarestad retired from the Army with notable honors and decorations.
CARLISLE, PA, October 09, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present James Harrison Aarestad with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Aarestad celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Aarestad is a retired academic administrator and United States Army officer with more than 40 years of distinguished service. With a family history of military service dating back to the United States Civil War, he served in the 502d Bomb Group (B29) during World War II in Korea as an advisor to the Korean Army and was the Commanding Officer of the 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Calvary Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. In all, seven campaigns in three wars. In 1949 he earned a commission in the Regular Army as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Reserve Officers Training |Program. The same year, he earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota. Subsequently, he graduated from Georgetown University with a Master of Arts in 1959. Mr. Aarestad completed postgraduate coursework at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, from 1960 to 1961, and at the National War College, Washington, D.C., from 1970 to 1971.
By 1970, Mr. Aarestad had advanced through the grades to the rank of colonel, and had served as the commander of the Second Squadron of the 11th Cavalry. Next he was assigned as chief of the strategy and of the He later accepted the post of the director of strategy and policy branch of the War Plans Division of the Army General Staff, Washington, DC. From 1971 to 1972, he worked as the chief of staff at the headquarters of the first armored division in the Federal Republic of Germany, and the commander of the second brigade of the third armored division from 1972 to 1974 defending the Fulda Gap. Following these roles, he excelled as the director of the national security seminar at the Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, from 1974 until his military retirement in 1976. Mr. Aarestad further flourished as the deputy director of industrial development for the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Raleigh, from 1976 to 1979, when he entered academic administration as a secretary and the business manager for the Dover Area School District in Pennsylvania, where he remained until his retirement in 1992.
A military history buff, Mr. Aarestad is the author of the books "Minnesota Alpha of Sigma Alpha Epsilon in WWII, 1941-1945," "Two Years in the Saddle, The Civil War Odyssey of Hans Peter Olson (4th Wisconsin Volunteer Calvary), 1864-1866," "Regimental Day, the 11th United States Calvary in Vietnam, 1969," "Heraldic Achievements, United States Army 1774-2000 (6 Parts), (Part 1 & 2), Calvary & Armor, (Part 3) Infantry, (Part 4) Vietnam, 1969" (2001) and "The Battle of Lang Nam, A Vietnam War Remembrance, 1969" (2018). He has also contributed articles to professional journals.
Mr. Aarestad was additionally active as a senior strategy consultant at Ketron Corporation of Malvern, Pennsylvania, from 1980 to 1995. He has provided his expertise to numerous business-focused panels and community organizations, participating on the board of directors of the York County Economic Development Corporation from 1980 to 1984, for which he attained chairman emeritus status in 1997.
He retired from the Army with notable honors and decorations. Among five citations for valor included are the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with 3 oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 9 oak leaf clusters, two commendation medals and the Vietnamese Galantry Cross with Gold Star.
He also earned certificates of appreciation from the Governor of the State of North Carolina in 1976 and 1979, and a resolution of appreciation from the York County Industrial Development Corporation in 1988.
He is a member of the Cavalry and Guards Club in London, Ends of the Earth in New York City, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, Virginia, Officers of the First Division 11th Cavalry, Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia, U.S. Cavalry Association and National Association of School Business Officials (registered school business administrator).
Mr. Aarestad was born in Minneapolis, MN to Selmer Emil and Myrtle Perline (Olson) A. in 1924. He is of Norwegian descent. He was married to Mary-Jo Finn from 1951 until her passing. He has one daughter, Elizabeth Boe Aarestad-Luster and four grandchildren.
Two grandsons are military men: one a wounded veteran of the Afghanistan War and the other serves on active duty in the United States Air Force.
Mr. Aarestad's father, Selmer, served in World War I in the 341st Tank Battalion. His grandfather, Elling, was a banker and with his brother, John, owned hardware stores in North Dakota and western Minnesota.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, James Harrison Aarestad has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
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