Mildred E Hedberg

Brigadier General Mildred E. Hedberg passed away peacefully on April 4, 2017 at the Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk, VA. She was born in Hiller, PA on January 23, 1929.
Her illustrious career began when she enlisted in the Woman’s Army Corps (WAC) in 1954. She completed the Officers Candidate School in 1956, having attained the honor of being “DMG” Distinguished Military Graduate of her Officers’ Candidate class, and was commissioned a second lieutenant. She earned an Associate of Arts degree from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Military Government while stationed in Europe through the University of Maryland. She also held a Masters degree in Business Administration from Webster College. Her military schooling included the Woman’s Army School, the Adjutant General School, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.

Throughout her career, General Hedberg held a variety of important command and staff positions. Her command assignments included Commander, WAC Detachment, Fort Gordon, Georgia (1958-60); Commander, WAC Company, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas (1966-70); and Commander, 5th Training Battalion, later 2nd Training Battalion, Academic Brigade, Fort Sam Houston, Texas (1976-77). Her key staff positions included Chief, Official Reception Bureau, Southern Army Command, United States Army Europe (1960-63); Assistant Secretary to the General Staff, 5th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado (1963); Chief, WAC Recruiting Division, later Personnel Staff Officer, United States Army Southwest Regional Recruiting Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas (1973-76); Chief, Recruiting and Reenlistment Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, United States Army, Washington, D.C. (1978-79); Chief of Staff, United States Army Corps of Cadets, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York (1979-81); Director of Personnel, J-1/Inspector General, United States European Command (1981-84) and Deputy Adjutant General for Administrative Systems/Executive Director Military Postal Service Agency (1984-85)
General Hedberg’s decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), and the Army Commendation Medal (with four Oak Leaf Clusters).

General Hedberg retired on February 28,1986 as The Adjutant General, United States Army/Commanding General, Physical Disability Agency — the first woman to hold this position and the nation’s senior ranking female officer at that time. She was one of the leading female career officers who was so admired and recognized for her trailblazing and leadership skills that many women entered the armed forces because of her.

She is preceded in death by her four brothers and three sisters and survived by thirteen nieces and nephews and a corps of great and great-great nieces and nephews. Burial with full military honors will take place at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, August 24 after a Roman Catholic Funeral Service at the Ft. Myer Chapel Arlington, VA.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Wounded Warriors. http://woundedwarriorproject.org/donate. She was “Army strong” in her life and in her passing and we know she is continuing to strive for that “hole in one” in heaven.

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