Ceremony honors Sundahl family’s service in World War II

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Growing up, John Sundahl’s family rarely talked about the sacrifice of his uncles, both of whom served and died in World War II. On Sunday, their stories were shared at American Legion Post 6, located at 2001 E. Lincolnway.

The commemorative ceremony honored the extraordinary service, sacrifice and resilience of the Sundahl family, sharing not only their story but the story of the more than 700 sets of American brothers who served and often died together in World War II.

“I’m very grateful, very grateful, not only for me and my own personal situation, but for all the other families,” John Sundahl said. “It’s a bit of closure, if you want to call it that, and it’s so much appreciated.”

John Sundahl was joined by his wife, U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., on Sunday as they listened to historian Kevin M. Callahan read the story of the Sundahl family from his book, “Brothers in Arms.”

John Sundahl never met his uncles, but he was close with his father and grandmother. When Callahan called him, doing research for the book, John Sundahl took the opportunity to revisit his family’s history.

“It’s been very emotional for him to think about his father, losing his brothers,” Hageman said. “He didn’t get to know them and didn’t get to have cousins, and I think he just recognizes the weight and magnitude of the loss for his grandmother.”

This story was published on August 18, 2025.