Wyllis Dale Olson
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
OLSON, Wyllis Dale
Wyllis Dale Olson was born in September 23rd 1923, the son of Robert & Mrs. Robert [Hedin] Olson in Proctor, Minnesota. He graduated from high school in 1941. His brothers Emery and Raymond also served during WWII.
Mr. Olson enlisted in the U.S. Navy on November 20th 1942 during World War II. He attended the Pre-Commissioning Training Center, Naval Training Station, in Norfolk, Virginia.
Mr. Olson was assigned to the USS Susan B. Anthony (AP-72), a transport ship, on April 20th 1943 for fifteen months. He was then assigned to the USS YMS-440, a minesweeper, for ten months, as well as the USS LST-285. He rose to the rank of Motor Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class.(MoMMc2)
MoMMc2 Olson earned the following merits for his service:
- American Theater Campaign Medal with 2 bronze stars,
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, -and-
- the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.
He was honorably discharged on November 17th 1945. After the war he returned home and married Marian Dorothiea [Saeland] and they started a family.
Source(s): Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form (above); undated article from the Duluth News Tribune-Herald (below)
MATES PROUD OF DULUTHIAN WHO BAGGED DIVE BOMBER
“With keen eye and steady hand, Duluthian Emery Olson, seaman 1-c, shot down a Jap dive-bomber recently while his ship was shelling enemy positions in the south Pacific.
“The sailor’s shipmates, proud of their comrade’s feat, wrote The Duluth News-Tribune and Herald asking that he be given “some sort of recognition,” not only for knocking down the bomber, but also for the calm, relentless, and purposeful manner in which he has carried on since receiving news of his brother, Raymond’s, death.
“His soldier brother, a sergeant, died of wounds in France. This tragedy has given Seaman Emery just one more purpose for fighting this war, say his comrades.
“Seaman Olson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Olson, 15 North Sixty-fourth avenue west, served all through the New Guinea campaign and has been overseas almost two years. His brother, Royal, served six months in the army and was given a medical discharge. Another brother, Willis, motor machinist’s mate 3-c, is attending pre-commission school, Norfolk, Va. He has made seven trips overseas in two years of service and is now training on a minesweeper.”
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Page 93 WWII Navy Muster Rolls - Fold3
