Private First Class Selvin Lars Nygaard (SN: 2855908), son of Lars O. and Ingeborg (Thorsdatter) Nygaard, was born 27 April 1892 in Sverdrup, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, and after the war lived the rest of his life in North Dakota. He is buried at the McVille Cemetery in McVille, Nelson County, North Dakota.

On 28 November 1917, Selvin married Ingeborg “Elizabeth” Sigette in Stearns County, Minnesota.  Five month later, on 28 April 1918 one day after his 26^th birthday, he was inducted as a Private in to the Army’s Company H, 349^th Infantry Regiment at Camp Dodge, Lakota, Iowa.  He shipped overseas on 20 June 1918, was promoted to Private First Class on 15 July 1918 and was wounded slightly on 12 September 1918 at St. Mihiel, France.  He also saw action at Puvenelle and Villers-en-Haye (Lorraine) before being discharged on 10 February 1919.

About nine months after his discharge in 1919, Selvin and Elizabeth’s twin sons, Lester and Leonard, were born in McVille, Nelson County, North Dakota.  They both served in WWII with the Army in the Pacific and with the Army Air Corp, respectively.  In 1932, Selvin and Elizabeth’s third son, Selvin Lars Jr., was born in McVille, thirteen years after his older brothers.

Selvin Sr. farmed the land in McVille for many years along with working as a laborer for the town’s Public Works.  He retired to Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota.

His Wound Certificate and replacement medal were presented to his Granddaughter, Mrs. Sue Johnson.

The return was conducted at halftime of the Minnesota Vikings game as a part of their Military Appreciation Game.

Returning the medal was Valor Guard members Mr. Michael Brennan and founder, Zachariah Fike.