(courtesy of Bobby and Carol Babin Estes)Grave
marker for Joe D. Olson and spouse in the Gass Cemetery, Omaha (Boone
county), Arkansas.
Joe enlisted in the Army at Jefferson Barracks, MO on 18 July 1942 and
was assigned to the Hq Hq, 508th PIR.
On 24 February 1995 he wrote a letter to Joe Favela and
shared some important facts:
"I was the shortest
man in the 508, 5'5", 145 pounds"
"I jumped in Normandy with the 82nd A/B Div Signal
Company, Parachute Platoon. It was put together for the invasion. I
was on detached service from the 508th."
"When the war ended in Europe I volunteered for the
Pacific. I landed in NY on August 14, 1945, V.J. Day"
"I was discharged October 25, 1945 at Ft Bragg, NC"
"I retired Aug 1, 1991 as a Judge of Los Angeles
County Superior Court, at which time we moved to Branson [MO]."
Joe didn't mention where
and when he attended college but like many other men who served he
undoubtedly took advantage of the GI Bill and it served him well as he
became a lawyer and then a judge. |