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Dr. ARJINDERPAL SINGH SEKHON, MD; FACP; FCCP; FACA
He fought in the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and then in Operation Enduring freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2003. He was also single engine, multi-engine pilot and a combat helicopter pilot. In 1998, a battalion under his command was the only battalion to pass the Exercise Optimum Focus among all army battalions in the United States Army. Before ending his career, he was decorated with various awards including a Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, an Army Flight Surgeon Badge, two Army Achievement Medals, 6 Army Commendation Medals, two National Defense Medals, and a Global War Against Terrorism Medal. He was given the certificate of achievement by the Secretary of Defense for participating in and winning the cold war. |
Dr. ARJINDERPAL SINGH SEKHON joined the United States Army in 1984. He rose through the ranks to Colonel and was given a Battalion Commander position through which he oversaw a unit of 600-700 soldiers. He was selected 6 times to the post of a Commander to command 5 different battalions and a Special Operations Brigade. He was the first Sikh Indian Physician to become a Colonel. He retired from the Army after 25 years of meritorious service on January 30, 2009. |
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| Dr. Sekhon with his wife (left) and Dr. Sekhon with Dr. Gumtala (right) | |
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Born on January 20, 1949 in village Wadala Kalan near Rayya (District Amritsar) he passed higher secondary from Khalsa College Higher Secondary School, Amritsar in 1964, Pre-Medical from Khalsa College, Amritsar in 1965 and MBBS from Govt. Medical College, Amritsar in 1971. He is the son of Ajaib Singh Sekhon who was D.P.E. in Khalsa College Amritsar at that time.
In the Army he graduated from United States Army College of Aviation Medicine to become a Flight Surgeon. He joined John F. Kennedy School of Special Warfare and Center to become a Psychological Warfare Officer. He went to National Defense University to graduate from National Security Strategy Course and Army War College to graduate from National Defense Strategy Course. So he became one of the most educated and trained Army officers in the United States Armed Forces. He is the first Indian American to obtain the above mentioned military education. In 2006 he entered American Politics to seek the Democratic Party Nomination to the United States House of Representatives and became the first physician from India to win the Primary election and got the Democratic Party nomination by defeating his America born opponent by over 5000 votes. He has been inducted into the United States Congress library as a historical event for being the first Sikh Colonel to become a Battalion Commander in the United States Army. He became Amritdhari (Baptised Sikh) when he was 3 year old. During his time of service, Colonel Sekhon’s articles of faith never impeded his success. His Sikh identity never interfered with his ability to create strong relationships with his fellow service members. He lives in Yuba City in California State, USA. His wife Dr Daljit Kaur is dental doctor. He has 2 daughters and 3 sons. I am lucky to have been his class fellow from Grade VI to Pre-medical. I have frequently met this unique personality in USA. These days he is not feeling well and admitted to hospital. We pray to God for his early recovery. His elder brother Col. Tejinderpal Singh Sekhon who also lives in Yuba City, may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala |
Dr. Sekhon went to the United States in 1973 and became a Board Certified Specialist in the fields of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine and Tropical Medicine. He was awarded Fellowship in American College of Physicians, American College of Chest Physicians, and American College of Angiology. He went to University of Northern California Law School to graduate with Jurist Degree and the United States Army War College to graduate with Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies.
