World War II Honoree

Teddy Ray Olsen

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Salt Lake City, Utah

Honored By

Edwin G. Anderson, Sr.

Relationship

Friend

ENTERED THE SERVICE ON DECEMBER 8, 1939 AND ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT THE NAVAL TRAINING CENTER IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. AFTER BOOT CAMP HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE USS COLORADO BB-45. THE SHIP WAS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN COMBAT AND TOOK 2 KAMIKAZE PLANE STRIKES AS WELL AS ARTILLERY SHELL HITS IN VARIOUS BATTLES. HE ALSO SERVED ABOARD THE USS PERKINS DD-877, THE USS SPANGLER DD-696 AND THE USS HECTOR AR-7. LATER HE WAS STATIONED AT LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO. IN ADDITION, HE SERVED TIME AS A NAVY RECRUITER IN NORTH DAKOTA. HE RECEIVED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE STARS, THE AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, CHINA SERVICE MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE MEDAL AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. HE WAS ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE STAR, THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND THE MM RIFLE BADGE. HE WAS DISCHARGED ON JUNE 17, 1959.