Vernon James Olsen
S1c on 7 December 1941
b. 1 Mar 1920 - d. 22 Apr 2011
Submitted by Helen Kostidakis
Vernon James Olsen was born March 1, 1920, the youngest of 14 children born to Oscar and Frances Olsen of Rockford, Illinois. Vernon attended Central High School in Rockford. He quit school at 16 to help support is family and worked 14 hours daily, 7 days a week, for $1 a day.
At age 20, Vernon enlisted in the United States Navy on October 8, 1940 for a six-year hitch. After Completing basic training at the Grat Lakes Naval Station in Illinois, Vernon was assigned to the USS Arizona (BB-39) as a seaman. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Olsen says that Sunday was a day that began like any other. Vern was assigned to mess duty for 5th Division when general quarter was sounded. His battle station was located in the gun tubs on the after mast, where he was to man a 50-calliber water-cooled machine gun. Vernon, just 21 years old that fateful Sunday morning 70 years ago, scrambled to his battle station atop the after mast of the Arizona when Japanese planes struck. He did not have access to the keys to the ready locker, therefore he did not have any ammunition or water needed to operate the machine gun. Years later, he would tell of seeing the Japanese bomber coming in between the ship’s masts to drop a bomb while he was manning the 50-caliber machine gun, waiting helplessly for ammunition. The plane was so close that Olsen could see the Japanese pilot grinning, he said in 1998 interview with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. When the bomb exploded, it all but obliterated the ship.
Following the explosion of the bomb, he was ordered to abandon ship. As he was escaping, he received severe burns to his arms. Another, much larger explosion occurred and the ship became an inferno. As Olsen jumped into the water, planes overhead were still shooting at him. He could hear other men hollering and screaming for help. They couldn't get them out. The ship was so mangled. Vern found himself in the harbor's water but was soon rescued and transported safely to Ford Island. Two days after the attack, he volunteered to serve on the USS Lexington (CV-2) and survived the sinking of that aircraft carrier during the battle of Coral Sea.
He went back to the states, after which he was assigned to the USS Nassau (CVE-16) and participated in many naval engagements in the Pacific. While the Nassau was under repair at the Mare Island Navy Yard in California, Vern was given one month leave to marry Jo Ann Castellese of Rockford, Illinois on April 8, 1944. Affter the war, Vernon was sent to Amphibious training school in Miami, Florida, then was assigned to the USS Fulton (AS-11) to go to Bikini Atoll in the Pacific. Years later, it was discolosed that he had participated as a guinea pig for the atomic testing there in July of 1946.
During his 6 year hitch, Vern apprenticed to receive certification for Electrician's Mate and obtained his GED. ON Decembber 9, 1946, Vernon received his honorable discharge from the Navy with the rank of Electrician's Mate First Class (Actina Chief).
Shortly after his discharge from the Navy, Vernon went to work for the Commonwealth Edison Company in Rockford, Illinois. He was in charge of distributing electircal power throughout the Rockford metropolitan area.
As a civilian, Vern and Jo Ann traveled, played golf, bowled, and entertained at their home. They were always including their family and friends in their activities. Jo Ann followed Vern around the country to every base he went to so that they could be together. Some of the bases inclulded San Francisco, CA; New York, NY; Boston, MA; Jacksonville, FL; and San Diego, CA. They loved taking their nieces and nephews along to company picnics and parties, or to the parties at their house, to the lake, and as companions on a car ride. They were always on the go. Vern was an avid reader and puzzle solver. Vern always had a wallet full of jokes and loved to make people laugh. His nieces and nephews (even great-great nieces and nephews) can attest to that! He enjoyed his food; his favorite food group was desert. He was a zealous shopper, especially for groceries.
Vern retired in 1975 after 28 1/2 years of service and he and Jo Ann moved to Port Charlotte, Florida.
Vernon Olsen passed away on April 22, 2011 and was survived by his wife of 67 years, Jo Ann, numerous nieces and nephews, and extended family members.
