According to his daughter Florence, Sylvester Harry Olson was born in Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts. There's another record that gives his birthplace as Chatham, Mass.
In his early adulthood he served in the Merchant Marines for 4 years, where he was a Quartermaster.
He married Delia Clews in 1911.
When he registered for the WWI draft he was 26 and a silversmith in Concord, New Hampshire.
He served in the US Army during WWI. His records are thought to have been part of those that were destroyed in the 1973 St. Louis fire that destroyed millions of records, but from photos we've discovered he was in the signal corp and was a Sergeant, Master Signal Electrician.
There's also a photo of him in uniform wearing a badge, perhaps military police.
So far the best guess for his service is:
[The 51st Signal Battalion was constituted on 3 June 1916 in the United States Army as the 5th Telegraph Battalion at Camp Alfred Vail, New Jersey. Redesigned the 55th Telegraph Battalion, the unit was awarded three Battle Streamers for its service with III Corps in the Champagne-Marne-Lorraine Defensive, Saint Michael Offensive, and Meuse-Argonne Offensive during World War I. ]
He was injured from being gassed while in France, and was missing for a couple of years, thought to be dead. Then one day he just came home, walking in on his family and causing his mother to faint. He had been in the Philadelphia VA hospital with amnesia. He received a couple of medals; I remember seeing a purple heart, the other was probably a silver star for wartime service. I will update when I can confirm through family that owns them.
Harry divorced after the war, moved to Mays Landing, Atlantic County, New Jersey, and lived in a historical house known as "The Old Weymouth House." It had been a stagecoach stop in the olden times and was said to be haunted.
He remarried in 1924 and went on to work for the Foundation Co. of NY, Twin Lakes Plant in Mays Landing, and was given a plaque thanking him for service on the Manhattan Project of WWII; Details of exactly what he did are unknown; we guess his employer may have made something related to the bomb.
Sadly, he passed away in 1974, from complications after a fall down the stairs.
He is missed.
In his early adulthood he served in the Merchant Marines for 4 years, where he was a Quartermaster.
He married Delia Clews in 1911.
When he registered for the WWI draft he was 26 and a silversmith in Concord, New Hampshire.
He served in the US Army during WWI. His records are thought to have been part of those that were destroyed in the 1973 St. Louis fire that destroyed millions of records, but from photos we've discovered he was in the signal corp and was a Sergeant, Master Signal Electrician.
There's also a photo of him in uniform wearing a badge, perhaps military police.
So far the best guess for his service is:
[The 51st Signal Battalion was constituted on 3 June 1916 in the United States Army as the 5th Telegraph Battalion at Camp Alfred Vail, New Jersey. Redesigned the 55th Telegraph Battalion, the unit was awarded three Battle Streamers for its service with III Corps in the Champagne-Marne-Lorraine Defensive, Saint Michael Offensive, and Meuse-Argonne Offensive during World War I. ]
He was injured from being gassed while in France, and was missing for a couple of years, thought to be dead. Then one day he just came home, walking in on his family and causing his mother to faint. He had been in the Philadelphia VA hospital with amnesia. He received a couple of medals; I remember seeing a purple heart, the other was probably a silver star for wartime service. I will update when I can confirm through family that owns them.
Harry divorced after the war, moved to Mays Landing, Atlantic County, New Jersey, and lived in a historical house known as "The Old Weymouth House." It had been a stagecoach stop in the olden times and was said to be haunted.
He remarried in 1924 and went on to work for the Foundation Co. of NY, Twin Lakes Plant in Mays Landing, and was given a plaque thanking him for service on the Manhattan Project of WWII; Details of exactly what he did are unknown; we guess his employer may have made something related to the bomb.
Sadly, he passed away in 1974, from complications after a fall down the stairs.
He is missed.
According to his daughter Florence, Sylvester Harry Olson was born in Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts. There's another record that gives his birthplace as Chatham, Mass.
In his early adulthood he served in the Merchant Marines for 4 years, where he was a Quartermaster.
He married Delia Clews in 1911.
When he registered for the WWI draft he was 26 and a silversmith in Concord, New Hampshire.
He served in the US Army during WWI. His records are thought to have been part of those that were destroyed in the 1973 St. Louis fire that destroyed millions of records, but from photos we've discovered he was in the signal corp and was a Sergeant, Master Signal Electrician.
There's also a photo of him in uniform wearing a badge, perhaps military police.
So far the best guess for his service is:
[The 51st Signal Battalion was constituted on 3 June 1916 in the United States Army as the 5th Telegraph Battalion at Camp Alfred Vail, New Jersey. Redesigned the 55th Telegraph Battalion, the unit was awarded three Battle Streamers for its service with III Corps in the Champagne-Marne-Lorraine Defensive, Saint Michael Offensive, and Meuse-Argonne Offensive during World War I. ]
He was injured from being gassed while in France, and was missing for a couple of years, thought to be dead. Then one day he just came home, walking in on his family and causing his mother to faint. He had been in the Philadelphia VA hospital with amnesia. He received a couple of medals; I remember seeing a purple heart, the other was probably a silver star for wartime service. I will update when I can confirm through family that owns them.
Harry divorced after the war, moved to Mays Landing, Atlantic County, New Jersey, and lived in a historical house known as "The Old Weymouth House." It had been a stagecoach stop in the olden times and was said to be haunted.
He remarried in 1924 and went on to work for the Foundation Co. of NY, Twin Lakes Plant in Mays Landing, and was given a plaque thanking him for service on the Manhattan Project of WWII; Details of exactly what he did are unknown; we guess his employer may have made something related to the bomb.
Sadly, he passed away in 1974, from complications after a fall down the stairs.
He is missed.
In his early adulthood he served in the Merchant Marines for 4 years, where he was a Quartermaster.
He married Delia Clews in 1911.
When he registered for the WWI draft he was 26 and a silversmith in Concord, New Hampshire.
He served in the US Army during WWI. His records are thought to have been part of those that were destroyed in the 1973 St. Louis fire that destroyed millions of records, but from photos we've discovered he was in the signal corp and was a Sergeant, Master Signal Electrician.
There's also a photo of him in uniform wearing a badge, perhaps military police.
So far the best guess for his service is:
[The 51st Signal Battalion was constituted on 3 June 1916 in the United States Army as the 5th Telegraph Battalion at Camp Alfred Vail, New Jersey. Redesigned the 55th Telegraph Battalion, the unit was awarded three Battle Streamers for its service with III Corps in the Champagne-Marne-Lorraine Defensive, Saint Michael Offensive, and Meuse-Argonne Offensive during World War I. ]
He was injured from being gassed while in France, and was missing for a couple of years, thought to be dead. Then one day he just came home, walking in on his family and causing his mother to faint. He had been in the Philadelphia VA hospital with amnesia. He received a couple of medals; I remember seeing a purple heart, the other was probably a silver star for wartime service. I will update when I can confirm through family that owns them.
Harry divorced after the war, moved to Mays Landing, Atlantic County, New Jersey, and lived in a historical house known as "The Old Weymouth House." It had been a stagecoach stop in the olden times and was said to be haunted.
He remarried in 1924 and went on to work for the Foundation Co. of NY, Twin Lakes Plant in Mays Landing, and was given a plaque thanking him for service on the Manhattan Project of WWII; Details of exactly what he did are unknown; we guess his employer may have made something related to the bomb.
Sadly, he passed away in 1974, from complications after a fall down the stairs.
He is missed.
Inscription
His grave marker states Cpl, but photos show he was promoted to rank of Sgt. Military records are being requested, but may have been destroyed in the 70's fire.
Family Members
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