World War II Honoree

Marcus Carl Olson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Ironwood, Michigan

Honored By

COL (Ret) Deborah Olson Read

Relationship

Niece

HE WAS DRAFTED ON DECEMBER 8, 1943, AND REPORTED FOR TRAINING TO THE 100TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 399TH REGIMENT, 2ND BATTALION, E COMPANY, 3RD SQUAD AS A RIFLEMAN ON DECEMBER 29 AT FT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA. AFTER TRAINING, THE REGIMENT LEFT NEW YORK, SPENDING 14 DAYS ON THE WATER FOR MARSEILLES, FRANCE. THE REGIMENT STARTED UP THE RHONE RIVER, TAKING THREE DAYS FOR THE CONVOY TO REACH THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS TO RELIEVE THE 45TH DIVISION. HIS UNIT FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. ON MARCH 15, THEY STARTED TO PUSH PAST THE REMNANTS OF THEIR WINTER LINE AT A PLACE WHERE THE GERMANS KNEW THEY WOULD COME THROUGH. HE WAS HIT BY A MORTAR FRAGMENT IN THE FIRST 15 MINUTES, AND WAS SENT TO THE HOSPITAL IN NANCY, FRANCE FOR 6 WEEKS, THEN RETURNED TO HIS OUTFIT NEAR STUTTGART. HE GOT INTO SPECIAL SERVICES. THE GROUP HE WAS WITH WENT THROUGH MARSEILLES AND SAILED BACK TO THE STATES ON MARCH 4, 1946. AWARDS AND DECORATIONS: BRONZE STAR, WWII VICTORY, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER.