Joel C. Helgeson

Indian Springs NV, Hulburt Field Florida and St Paul Minnesota
  • Military specialty: Helicopter Mechanic
  • Awards: Desert Shield medal

b. 3 Jul 1957. Joel Craig Helgeson was born in Windom, MN to John and Joyce (Peterson) Helgeson.  He graduated from high school in Windom.

Joel joined the Army National Guard when it was located in Windom in 1982 and spent two years with that unit until he went active and joined the Air Force in 1984. He served until 1990 and then returned home and went into the Air National Guard in St. Paul until 1991.   He was stationed at Indian Springs, NV and Hurlburt Field, FL while on active duty  and was a helicopter mechanic.  Joel fired 155 Howitzers when he was with the Army National Guard in Windom and then when he was he was stationed at Indian Springs, NV, he was a mechanic for the Air Force’s Huey M model helicopter. The mission was to fly support for the Dept. of Enegy when they detonated nukes underground-they flew over to see if it would vent.  Then when he was in the Air Force and stationed at Hurlburt Field in FL, Joel worked on the HH 53H Pave Low and was in the unit when they were deployed to extract Noreiga from Panama.

On 24 Nov 1979, Joel married Lori Schmidt.

  • Obituary: None on file