kcmo Posted March 24, 2017 Share #1 Posted March 24, 2017 All, Wanted to share the service and sacrifice of the Olson family during WWI and WWII. In WWI, PFC Olson served in L company of the 32nd Division and his two brothers, Frank and Hayward served in the Navy. During the war, PVT Olson would be wounded in Aisen-Marne Offensive on July 31, 1918 and gassed during Meuse Argonne on October 5, 1918 before his discharge in 1919. Hayward would also be discharged in 1919 and it appears that Frank stayed in the Navy following the war after serving on the USS Ammen. In 1932, Mr. Olson received his Purple Heart with the LOLC back in his hometown of Menominee, Michigan. He would stay in the area until around 1943 when he moved to Los Angeles. PVT Olson died in 1962 and is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. PFC Olson had at least two sons that served in the military during WWII. John served in the Navy and his brother William in 506 PIR, 101st Airborne. Unfortunately, William was killed in action in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944 when the C-47 (#42-100905) was shot down by anti-aircraft fire around Magneville, France losing the crew and all paratroopers onboard. A memorial stands in France for the crew and another bomber crew that was lost during the war. PFC Olson, after the war would return back in his hometown of Menominee, Michigan for burial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted March 24, 2017 Brothers/ Article on William olson newspaper clip.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted March 24, 2017 Purple Hearts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67Rally Posted March 24, 2017 Share #4 Posted March 24, 2017 Great research and awesome family group. Did you acquire them together? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted March 24, 2017 Share #5 Posted March 24, 2017 A very poignant and historic group. Thank you for sharing the images of their medals and their stories. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted March 24, 2017 Share #6 Posted March 24, 2017 Thanks for sharing and keeping the story alive and so their sacrifice is recognized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted March 25, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted March 25, 2017 Here is the memorial for the crew and paratroopers in France. RIP to all for making the ultimate sacrifice on D-Day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SA1794 Posted March 25, 2017 Share #8 Posted March 25, 2017 Very poignant grouping. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted March 25, 2017 Author Share #9 Posted March 25, 2017 both medals were acquired from an auction in January being sold together as a lot. Very glad they weren't split up and sold individually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted March 26, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted March 26, 2017 Here are a couple of articles I found on William. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted March 26, 2017 Author Share #11 Posted March 26, 2017 2nd one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerialbridge Posted March 27, 2017 Share #12 Posted March 27, 2017 Very moving father and son Purple Hearts. As an Angeleno, I particularly appreciate this group. Glad you've kept it together and are keeping their memories alive, as we collectors generally do. From the LA Times, 5 Aug 1944- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerialbridge Posted March 27, 2017 Share #13 Posted March 27, 2017 LA Times, 29 June 1948 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerialbridge Posted March 27, 2017 Share #14 Posted March 27, 2017 7 May 1948 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted March 28, 2017 Author Share #15 Posted March 28, 2017 Thanks for the additional articles. I missed them on ancestry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 28, 2017 Share #16 Posted March 28, 2017 Interesting...looks like they lived pretty close to each other. My father in law grew up in the 30s and 40s not a mile south of where William lived and used to ride his bike to USC (near William's father's house) when he went to school there in the 1950s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerialbridge Posted March 29, 2017 Share #17 Posted March 29, 2017 Thanks for the additional articles. I missed them on ancestry. You're welcome, glad to help. And thanks for posting this great father/son PH group that you've got. You didn't miss the articles, they're from the LA Times archives-- not available on ancestry or newspapers.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted June 6, 2018 Author Share #18 Posted June 6, 2018 Bringing this grouping back up for the anniversary of D-Day and the sacrifice of the Olson family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted June 6, 2018 Share #19 Posted June 6, 2018 Very poignant group. Very nice presentation on these heroes. May they all Rest in Peace. Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share #20 Posted June 6, 2019 Bringing this grouping back up for the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the sacrifice of the Olson family on this date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerialbridge Posted June 6, 2019 Share #21 Posted June 6, 2019 The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living. (Cicero) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted June 5, 2020 Author Share #22 Posted June 5, 2020 BTT. For the D-Day Anniversary and the loss of William. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swag Posted June 6, 2020 Share #23 Posted June 6, 2020 Fabulous set of medals. Tragic that his son was KIA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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