08.08.13

Hoeven Honors Three Minot Veterans with Military Awards

Senator Presents Medals to Douglas Benjamin, Franklin Eklund Jr. and Lyder Nord

MINOT, N.D. – At a ceremony in Minot today, Senator John Hoeven presented three local veterans with military awards to honor their service in the U.S. Army. Hoeven presented Vietnam veteran Spc. Douglas Benjamin with replacements of the medals he lost during the 2011 flooding of the Souris River. The senator also awarded medals to veterans Sgt. Franklin Eklund Jr. who served during Vietnam and Sgt. Lyder Nord who served during the Korean War. Senator Hoeven’s office has been working with all three veterans to secure the medals they earned for their military service.

“Today we are honored to recognize Spc. Benjamin, Sgt. Eklund Jr. and Sgt. Nord for their commendable service to our country,” said Hoeven. “These Army veterans have each served our country with courage and honor. It is fitting and right that we should present them with the medals they earned as an outward sign of our country’s continued appreciation for the important work they have done protecting our nation and defending our freedoms.”

Spc. Douglas Benjamin attended Minot High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967. He served in the Army until 1973, completing a tour of duty in Vietnam, and today works for A. H. Newman Inc. of Clifford, N.D. Hoeven’s office worked to reissue Benjamin’s military medals that were lost in the flood of 2011. Doug and his wife currently reside in their Minot home that has been completely rebuilt following the historic flooding. They have three children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Spc. Douglas Benjamin Military Honors

  • Bronze Star Medal
  • Army Commendation Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Vietnam Service Medal
  • Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon
  • Sharpshooter Badge

Sgt. Franklin Eklund Jr. was raised in Tioga, N.D. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. Following his service with the Army, Eklund graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in industrial technology and briefly taught at Gwinner High School before beginning a career in farming. He and his wife Julianne have lived in Minot since 1984 and have two children. Three of Eklund’s brothers and his father also served in the Army.

Sgt. Franklin Eklund Jr. Military Honors

  • Army Commendation Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Vietnam Service Medal
  • Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon
  • Sharpshooter Badge

Sgt. Lyder Nord was born in Churches Ferry, N.D. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952 and served stateside during the Korean War. Nord was honorably discharged from the Army in 1954 and went on to work at a farm store for more than 50 years. He and his wife, the late Gloria Liudahl, have four children and three grandchildren.

Sgt. Lyder Nord Military Honors

  • Army Good Conduct Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal