World War II Honoree

Richard Albert Olson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

South Gate, California

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC WITH MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT (MTB) SQUADRONS SOUTH PACIFIC. FURTHER ASSIGNED TO MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT SQUADRON 19 (RON 19), BASED ON VELLA LAVELLA ISLAND IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. PARTICIPATED IN THE TREASURY-BOUGAINVILLE AND BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO OPERATIONS. ABOUT 1430 HOURS ON DECEMBER 14, 1943 A FIRE BROKE OUT ALONG THE FUEL DOCK-STOREHOUSE AREA AT LAMBU LAMBU COVE ON VELLA LAVELLA. THE AREA, WHICH WAS USED TO REFUEL BOATS AND FOR STORAGE OF AMMUNITION AND OTHER SUPPLIES, WAS INSTANTLY A BLAZING INFERNO. AMMUNITION WAS EXPLODING, FUEL BURNING, AND A PT BOAT WAS COMPLETELY IN FLAMES. ANOTHER BOAT ALONGSIDE NARROWLY ESCAPED DESTRUCTION DUE HIS BRAVERY AND THAT OF ANOTHER SAILOR WHO RAN INTO THE BURNING HELL AND MOVED THE BOAT OUT OF HARM'S WAY. TWO OF HIS MATES PERISHED IN THE CHAOS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE WAS A SMALL GASOLINE ENGINE BACKFIRING DURING REFUELING THAT IGNITED THE HIGH-OCTANE AVIATION FUEL USED FOR THE BOATS. WITH THEIR FUEL AND FOOD SUPPLIES LOST AND ALL SPARE PARTS FOR THE BOATS GONE, RON 19 ABANDONED THE BASE AT VELLA LAVELLA AND MOVED TO A TREASURY ISLAND BASE. MOVED TO ANOTHER NEW FORWARD BASE ON GREEN ISLAND, BETWEEN BOUGAINVILLE IN THE SOLOMONS AND NEW IRELAND IN THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO, ON MARCH 10, 1944. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.