Nils-Olof Hederén

Nils-Olof "Olle" Hederén (13 April 1908 – 9 January 1976) was a Swedish Army officer. He served as commanding officer of the South Scanian Infantry Regiment and Jämtland Ranger Regiment. Hederén also served as battalion commander in Congo during the Congo Crisis.

Early life Hederén was born on 13 April 1908 in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of Anton Hederén, an engineer, and his wife Agnes Ohlsson. He passed studentexamen in 1928. He was the military chief of the Kamina Base and Sector Kamina in the State of Katanga. During this time, the Katangan resistance against Congo's central government was definitively crushed and the breakaway province of Katanga was integrated back into the Congolese government formation. Hederén experienced the final stage of the UN's mandate at the Kamina Base, since it had been maintained and guarded by UN staff for nearly four years. He was the initiator of the reconstruction of the Bukama Bridge and of a major medicine collection for the benefit of the population of Sector Kamina.

Later career In 1964 he had been transferred to the reserve. After retiring from the military, Hederén was hired by Sveriges Kreditbank as security manager. He stayed in this position until 1973.

Personal life On 22 October 1938 he married Gunilla Breitholtz (1915–1995), the daughter of captain Gösta Breitholtz and Eva Breitholtz.

Death Hederén died on 9 January 1976. The funeral service was held on 16 January 1976 at Gustaf Adolf Church in Stockholm. He was buried at Norra begravningsplatsen in Stockholm on 17 May 1976.

Dates of rank 1931 – Second lieutenant 19?? – Lieutenant 19?? – Captain 1949 – Major 1957 – Lieutenant colonel 1963 – Colonel (acting rank during 1963)

Awards and decorations

Swedish

Jämtland County Schooting Association's Gold Medal (Jämtlands läns skytteförbunds guldmedalj) National Federation of Swedish Women’s Auxiliary Defence Services' Silver Medal (Riksförbundet Sveriges lottakårers silvermedalj) Northern Scania Officers Union's Silver Medal (Norra skånska befälsförbundets silvermedalj) Swedish Sport Shooting Association's Silver Medal (Svenska sportskytteförbundets silvermedalj)

Foreign

Finland Shooting Association's Gold Medal of Merit (Finlands skytteförbunds förtjänstmedalj i guld) Norwegian Shooting Association's Silver Medal (Norges skytteförbunds silvermedalj)