T/4 Edward Eiler Olsen
(1907 - 1948)
Profile
T/4 Edward E. Olsen was born in Copenhagen in 1907. Following a period in the merchant navy he emigrated to the USA. During the Second World War he served as a radio mechanic in the USAAF in Italy.
Edward Eiler Olsen—originally Holger Eduard Ejler Wessmann Olsen—was born on 1 December 1907 in Copenhagen, to Anna Hilma Katrine Wessmann and steel shipbuilder Holger Kristian Olsen.[1] The parents married on 29 November 1908. [2] As a child the family lived in Copenhagen, but in 1918 the family moved to Nakskov, where his father was employed at the shipyard.[3]
Emigrating to the USA
Olsen was a sailor before the war. Olsen was signed on the Danish SS Emma Mærsk in Bayonne, New Jersey, on October 1929.[4] His lawful admission to the United States with regards to his pater petition for naturalisation was onboard this vessel in San Pedro, California, on 4 August 1930.[5]
In 1940, he was employed by the New York realtor Adolph A. Hageman.[6]
Enlisting in the USAAF
Olsen enlisted as a private (32527010) in the US Army in New York City on 12 October 1942. He was not yet a citizen at the time. [7] Five months later, on 12 March 1943, as he was naturalised as a US citizen, he served as a Private First Class in the 1001st Technical School Squadron at 720 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.[8]
On 1 September 1943, he had been trained as a radio mechanic and promoted to corporal. He was posted from 40th Technical School Squadron to 372nd Technical School Squadron at Boca Raton Field, Florida.[9] Three weeks later, on 23 September 1943, he was transferred to 635th Technical School Squadron. [10] He seems to have been eliminated from the course and as a consequence reduced to the grade of private. However, he was immediately promoted to Private First Class. [11] He was transferred to Training School Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin, for additional training.[12]
In November 1943, he graduated from a VHF Radio Mechanic course at Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin, and was assigned to the Operational Readiness Training Complex at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, [13] prior to being posted overseas.
Overseas Service
He was posted overseas. On 16 March 1944, Olsen was one of 49 enlisted men (Task Force AB-074-B) who was attached to Camp Don B. Passage near Casablanca in French Morocco on 16 March 1944. [14] On 19 April 1944, he was transferred from HQ 62nd Service Group, Service Center No. 62, to 1078th Signal Company, 62nd Service Group, in Manduria, Italy.[15]
Olsen was released from service holding the rank of Technician Fourth Grade (T/4) on 27 August 1945. He returned to New York, where he died on 25 October 1945.[16]
Endnotes
[1] DNA: Parish register, Den Kgl. Fødselsstiftelse.
[2] DNA: Parish register, Sankt Ansgar.
[3] DNA: 1921 Census of Denmark.
[4] Ancestry: New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957.
[5] Ancestry: Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991.
[6] Ancestry: U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.
[7] U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.
[8] Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991.
[9] NARA: RG 64, Morning Reports, Morning Reports September 1943 - Roll 496 (3 of 4) (NAID: 451410352) and RG 64, Morning Reports, Morning Reports September 1943 - Roll 497 (1 of 4) (NAID: 451411663).
[10] NARA: RG 64, Morning Reports, Morning Reports September 1943 - Roll 497 (1 of 4) (NAID: 451411663).
[11] NARA: RG 64, Morning Reports, Morning Reports October 1943: Roll 378 (4 of 4) (NAID: 453235970).
[12] NARA: RG 64, Morning Reports, Morning Reports October 1943: Roll 378 (4 of 4) (NAID: 453235970).
[13] NARA: RG 64, Morning Reports, Morning Reports November 1943: Roll 228 (3 of 5) (NAID: 455726034).
[14] NARA: RG 64, Morning Reports, Morning Reports March 1944: Roll 567 (2 of 3) (NAID: 466536042).
[15] NARA: RG 64, Morning Reports, Morning Reports April 1944: Roll 566 (1 of 5) (NAID: 469133438).
[16] Ancestry: U.S., National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962.