| Birth: | Oct. 13, 1917 | | Death: | Jan. 31, 1944 | 
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was killed in action. He served as a Sergeant in the United States Army in Company B, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on January 30-31, 1944 near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy. His citation reads in part "Although he had been fighting without respite, Sgt. Olson stuck grimly to his post all night while his gun crew was cut down, one by one, by accurate and overwhelming enemy fire. Weary from over 24 hours of continuous battle and suffering from an arm wound, received during the night engagement, Sgt. Olson manned his gun alone, meeting the full force of an all-out enemy assault by approximately 200 German men supported by mortar and machine-gun fire which the Germans launched at daybreak on the morning of 31 January. After 30 minutes of fighting, Sgt. Olson was morally wounded, yet, knowing that only his weapons stood between his company and complete destruction, he refused evacuation. For an hour and a half after receiving his second and fatal wound he continued to fire his machine gun, killing at least 20 of the enemy, wounding many more, and forcing the assaulting German elements to withdraw." (bio by: Don Morfe)
Search Amazon for Truman Olson | | | Burial:
West Koshkonong Lutheran Church Cemetery
Stoughton
Dane County
Wisconsin, USA |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Originally Created by: Don Morfe
Record added: Sep 29, 2003
Find A Grave Memorial# 7932774 |
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