Roger Sandeen

Vietnam War Veteran Grand Marshal
HAV Veterans Day Parade 2025

Roger Sandeen
Scottsdale, AZ

Roger Sandeen was born on November 14, 1945, in Fremont, Nebraska. He and his three younger sisters were raised in an impoverished family by a World War II veteran and his wife. He graduated from Midland Lutheran College with a BSBA degree in June 1968, thanks to student loans and scholarships. The Selective Service System then changed his classification to 1A – Available for unrestricted military service. Rather than start a new job and wait to be drafted, Sandeen enlisted in the Army for two years of active duty. Although the war had become increasingly unpopular, he wanted to serve his country. “After all,” he said, “ America provided student loans for my college education through the National Defense Education Act of 1958.”

Sandeen was sent to Fort Lewis for basic training and graduated in late August 1968. He was then given orders for advanced infantry training also at Fort Lewis, graduating in October 1968. He was then issued orders to report to Fort Lewis for deployment to South Vietnam in January 1969. 

He served with the 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta area. He was assigned to Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 47th Regiment operating out of a company base camp in Kien Hoa province. He served as an individual fire crewman, performing various combat roles, including platoon point man. Sandeen and his platoon sergeant, Donnie Lee Miller, were wounded in action by a booby-trapped grenade on March 17, 1969. After surgery and physical therapy, he returned to his combat unit in mid-April.

During his service in Vietnam, Roger Sandeen was awarded 11 medals, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Air and Army Commendation medals. He was diagnosed with PTSD because of his Vietnam service by the VA a few years ago. Roger completed the PTSD treatment program at the Phoenix VA medical center. Although the traumatic memories of Vietnam never go away, he says he now has better skills to cope with PTSD. 

Upon completion of his active duty obligation, he returned to civilian life and became a CPA. He worked in public accounting and corporate America for over 45 years, spanning Omaha, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and ultimately Phoenix. In addition to his professional life, Sandeen has volunteered for several non-profit organizations that serve those in need, particularly veterans.