ND Veterans Affairs News: State

born New Rockford, ND 8 May 19; resident Eddy County, ND; entered AUS Blytheville, Arkansas 30 Aug 43; served European African Middle Eastern Theater; KIA 26 Jul 44 Italy; buried in Grave 9127, Block 9, Section C, Ft Snelling National Cemetery, Mpls, MN.

When Norman E. Olson was born on March 19, 1915, in Canada, his father, John, was 28 and his mother, Marie, was 23. He had one brother and two sisters. Captain Olson began his studies at the university in Marquette before interrupting them to join the Army Reserve. He qualified as a pilot with the rank of Second Lieutenant on May 20, 1942 at Foster Field, Texas, with Class 42-E. Assigned to the 313rd Fighter Squadron, 50th Fighter Group , he was transferred to the 357th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group in March 1943.

born Buxton, ND 31 Dec 10; resident Traill County, ND; entered AUS Ft Snelling, MN 4 Nov 42; served European African Middle Eastern Theater; died in service 30 Oct 44 Germany; buried in Grave 14492, Block 25, Section C, Ft Snelling National Cemetery, Mpls, MN.

Born Bowbells, ND 27 Oct 29; resident Burke County, ND; entered AUS Fargo, ND 28 Nov 51; died in service 30 Dec 51 Carroll, Iowa; burial place unk.

born Romness Township, ND 17 Apr 17; resident Griggs County, ND; entered AUS Ft Snelling, MN 20 Mar 42; served European African Middle Eastern Theater; KIA 25 Nov 44 Germany; buried in Ringsaker Lutheran Cemetery, Cooperstown, ND.

born Scranton, ND 21 Jan 21; resident Billings County, ND; entered AUS Ft Snelling, Minn 5 Oct 42; died in service 1 Nov 43 Ft Sill, Okla; buried in Peace Lutheran Cemetery, Scranton, ND.

born Ross, ND 27 Jun 26; resident Mountrail County, ND; entered AUS Ft Snelling, Minn 19 Sep 44; served Asiatic Pacific Theater; KIA 7 May 45 Okinawa; buried in Plot 33, Grave 5, Section 3, Fairview Cemetery, Stanley, ND.

born Grand Forks, ND 25 Feb 26; resident Pembina County, ND; entered US Navy Mpls, MN 16 Jun 43; served Asiatic Pacific Theater; died in service 6 Apr 45 Okinawa; buried in Plot E, Grave 666, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Gerald Royce Olson was born in Oberon, Benson County, North Dakota on June 3, 1924, to Olaf Adolph (Asbjorne) and Cynthia A Wing Olson.  He entered the United States Navy in Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota on December 11, 1942, and served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class Olson died in service on June 15, 1945, in a plane crash in Corpus Christi Bay, Nueces County, Texas. He is buried in Block 4, Range F, Grave 2, Section N 1/2 of Lot 33, Hillside Cemetery, Oberon, Benson County, North Dakota.

born Underwood, MN 14 Jul 21; resident Traill County, ND; entered USMC Mpls, MN 31 Mar 42; served Asiatic Pacific Theater; died in service 30 Aug 44 Mariana Islands; buried in Grave 269, Section M, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.