KENNETH
LEE OLSON
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Company A, 5th Battalion, 12th Infantry,
199th Infantry Brigade (Separate)
(Light).
Place and Date: Republic of Vietnam, 13
May 1968.
Entered Service at: Minneapolis, Minn.
Born : 26 May 1945, Willmar, Minn.
Medal
of Honor Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
in action at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Olson
distinguished himself at the cost of his
life while serving as a team leader with
Company A. Sp4c. Olson was participating
in a mission to reinforce a
reconnaissance platoon which was heavily
engaged with a well-entrenched Viet Cong
force. When his platoon moved into the
area of contact and had overrun the first
line of enemy bunkers, Sp4c. Olson and a
fellow soldier moved forward of the
platoon to investigate another suspected
line of bunkers. As the 2 men advanced
they were pinned down by intense
automatic weapons fire from an enemy
position 10 meters to their front. With
complete disregard for his safety, Sp4c.
Olson exposed himself and hurled a hand
grenade into the Viet Cong position.
Failing to silence the hostile fire, he
again exposed himself to the intense fire
in preparation to assault the enemy
position. As he prepared to hurl the
grenade, he was wounded, causing him to
drop the activated device within his own
position. Realizing that it would explode
immediately, Sp4. Olson threw himself
upon the grenade and pulled it in to his
body to take the full force of the
explosion. By this unselfish action Sp4c.
Olson sacrificed his own life to save the
lives of his fellow comrades-in-arms. His
extraordinary heroism inspired his fellow
soldiers to renew their efforts and
totally defeat the enemy force. Sp4c.
Olson's profound courage and intrepidity
were in keeping with the highest
traditions of the military service and
reflect great credit upon himself, his
unit, and the U.S. Army.
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