Matthew Evangelista and Taylor James

Matthew Evangelista and Taylor James

Period 5

Berl Olson

U.S. Army Air Corp

1943-1946

SrA Berl “Olie” Olson

Serving in the United States Army Air Corp, Senior Airman Berl Olson is a remarkable man. As a WWII Veteran, Olson has had several noteworthy experiences in his life, both in and out of service.

Berl “Olie” Olson was born on a snowy day on March 10, 1924 in Boise, Idaho. Due to the snowstorm on the day of his birth, he was known by his relatives as “born to be wild.” Raised on a farm, Oliegrew to love performing, as he would sing and dance at several town events. In addition, Olsonwas very intelligent as an A+ student in school. One of his great inspirations included his father, a veteran of the First World War. It bothered Oliethat his father, an honorable, strong statured man, was reduced to limping, due to being shot in the leg during the Great War. On December 7, 1941, Olson vividly remembers the day Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. He described his mother wondering what America would do in response. He and his father were both prepared to watch their country fight in the war.

In February of 1943, Olson was drafted at the age of 17, fresh out of high school. As one of the top students in his class, Olson aced the aptitude test, putting him in the Air Force. Wanting to be a paratrooper, Olson confronted the officers giving the test, who responded by saying, “You better get used to taking orders, son.” For the most part, the service was very enjoyable for him, much like a vacation. While others complained about waking up early in the morning, Olson was already used to it due to living a farming lifestyle. Olson trained in the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. He was also later stationed in Air Station Clearwater in Clearwater, Florida, Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, and Paterson Air Force base in Paterson, New Jersey. Assigned the job of a Flight Engineer, Olson worked on planes like the B-17 bomber, B-25 bomber, and P-51 fighter. Having the duty of the flight engineer, he would be the third in line to pilot the plane, should the pilot and co-pilot be compromised. Should something happen to the pilot and co-pilot, it is his decision to bail or proceed with the mission. In addition to these duties, Olson was also responsible for monitoring the engine systems of the aircraft in flight and deal with any problems that may come up. During a test flight, the pilot, who was not in his right mind, tried to land the plane with a messed up landing gear. Fortunately for the crew, Olson was able to use his Flight Engineer experience to fix the problem and land properly.

Olson would often go to the town for entertainment. In the south he encountered several instances of racial discrimination. On one occasion, as Olson was riding the trolley, he offered his seat to an African American woman, who was hesitant at first, but graciously accepted. Moments later, a 6’4 red headed white man forcefully pushed Olson, asserting “That’s not how we treat our blacks in the South.” This angered Olson, who was prepared to fight. However, the bus driver sensed the tension, and a police officer separated the two. Olson made it clear that he looks beyond the color of someone’s skin. His judgment on people is based on the content of their character, not their appearance. For this reason, Olson detested the South, and refused to stay there.

On the matter of the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, Olson agrees with Truman’s decision. Had the United States not bombed Japan, there would be more casualties on both sides. He agrees that the bomb saved the time and lives that would have been lost in a land invasion.

Olson left the service on February 12, 1946. He describes that the response from the public upon his return was positive, as he received much praise and gratitude for his service. Following his military career, Olson became very successful in the retail business for the next fifty years. He worked as a manager for furniture and jewelry stores, as well as Sears.

Upon retirement, Olie continues to assist the military, joining the Air Force Honor Guard, a ceremonial unit that performs in a military funeral. He works hard with his group, describing that as they fire their rifles in the air, they must be so in sync that they sound as one rifle.

Olie is still going strong, 89 years young. He is living proof that age is just a number. Olie married Lola Mae, his longtime girlfriend, and had five children, Cindy, Terry, Debbie, Pam and Ron. Olie is very proud of his children and grandchildren, who pass on his legacy. He can only hope that they would never experience the terrors of war. Berl Olson’s remarkable life serves as an inspiration for the rest of us to work hard and earn our lives for the men and women that sacrifice theirs. He has enjoyed his life as he says, “I’ve had a great ride down the path of life, and I did it my way!”