Valor Friday

While driving around I like to look at the memorial highway designations. Many of them in my state, I’m aware of who they are. The stretch of I-35 through Lino Lakes, MN is dedicated to Officer Shawn Silvera. He was a police officer who died in the line of duty trying to stop a fleeing felon. A death I happened to hear play out live as I was working and scanning that channel on the radio. Similarly, the Richard I Bong Memorial Bridge between Duluth, MN and Superior, WI is named for Major Bong, the American Ace of Aces and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II from the area.

It was on a recent trip across the state that I came across a Medal of Honor memorial highway with a name I was unfamiliar with. Being a military historian, you know I immediately looked up the man’s story.

A portion of MN State Highway 23 in Paynesville is named for Kenneth Olson. Born in nearby Willmar, Olson was just 22 when he posthumously earned the nation’s highest award for gallantry in action in Vietnam.

Olson enlisted in 1967 and was in the thick of the jungle war inside a year. Assigned to the 12th Infantry Regiment, Olson is one of only five Minnesota men to have received the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War.

On 13 May 1968, Olson and his comrades were part of Operation Toan Thang I, the Allied response to the Tet Offensive. Toan Thang means “complete victory”, and the intent of the operation was to put major pressure on the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong in the III Corps area.

On that day Olson’s company was moving to reinforce a reconnaissance platoon that was engaged by a much larger enemy force.

Arriving at the site of the battle, Olson’s platoon struck the first line of enemy bunkers, silencing them all. Olson and a fellow soldier moved up to the second line of suspected defensive positions. They started to take heavy direct fire from just 10 yards ahead.

Pinned down, Olson completely disregarded his own safety by exposing himself to throw a hand grenade. Unsuccessful in stopping the enemy barrage, he again exposed himself to toss another grenade. Winding up to throw, just as he was about to release the bomb, he was critically wounded by enemy fire.

The enemy shot caused Olson to lose his grip on the live grenade, the ticking bomb now within the midst of him and his fellow soldier. Knowing full well it was moments away from exploding, Olson grabbed the grenade and smothered it with his own body. While dying with his final act of unimaginable bravery, he saved the lives of his comrades in arms.

Following Spec Four Olson’s example, the men of his platoon rallied and ferociously attacked the enemy positions, completely routing them. As I said above, Olson was just 22. His body was returned home, where he’s buried in his native Paynesville.

Of the other four Minnesotans to have earned the Medal of Honor during Vietnam, only one man lived to receive the honor. While Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Leo Thorsness of Walnut Grove, MN survived the action for which he earned the MoH, he was shot down and captured just a week and a half later. He was a “guest” of the North Vietnamese for almost six years. His medal was awarded while he was a POW, so it was kept secret until his repatriation.

Army Specialist Four Dale Wayrynen of Moose Lake, MN also died while smothering a grenade, almost a year to the day before Olson’s doing the same, to earn his MoH. He was just 20 years old.

Army Staff Sergeant Laszlo Rabel enlisted from Minneapolis, but had emigrated from Hungary after the 1956 Revolution. He enlisted in 1965 and was killed in action in November 1968 when he too jumped onto a grenade, earning his MoH. He was 31.

Staff Sergeant Robert Pruden, a Ranger with the 75th Ranger Regiment, died in action after repeatedly advancing on an enemy position despite being struck by enemy fire several times. Even after mortally wounded, the 20 year old Ranger directed his men into defensive positions and coordinated by radio the evacuation helicopters.

Category: Army, Historical, Medal of Honor, Valor, We Remember