John R. Olson
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
John R. Olson entered the Army on October 9, 1944, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Home at entry: Duluth, Minnesota.
He served as a Corporal and infantryman with the 104th Infantry Division in France, Belgium, Germany, and the United States.
Mr. Olson shared the following:
"I took basic training at Camp Fannin, Texas. Shipped out of Fort Dix by ship to Europe. Landed at LeHavre and traveled by 40' and 8' box cars to the front. I was sent to Co D, 415 Infantry Regiment, 104th 'Timberwolf' Division. I was 2nd Gunner in a heavy .30 caliber (water-cooled) machine gun-I carried the gun.
"One highlight was the liberation of prisoner-laborers in the Dora-Nord Hausen Prison Camp. We met the Russian Army at the Elbe River. We returned early to the U.S. Being scheduled for the invasion of Japan but while home on 'delay en route' the atom bomb ended the war."
He was awarded the following: Bronze Star Medal, American Theater Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge.
Mr. Olson was honorably discharged on August 17, 1946, at Fort Lewis, Washington.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 362.
