52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (2019-43)
 |
| Clifford Olsen, scanned from an original photo in the personal collection of Virginia Summers Olsen. © Edward R. Olsen 10.21.2019 |
Lately I've been looking at information and photos of my grandfather, Clifford Olsen (1922-1966), during his WWII tour. I recently came across this photo of him in a jeep that I've had for a few years and felt that it worked perfectly for the "Transportation" prompt for this week.
World War II saw the creation of one of America’s most beloved vehicles, the Jeep...the Jeep was once a military workhorse designed to move troops, help the wounded and more. The story of the Jeep begins in the late 1930s, when the United States military was searching for a vehicle that was light, rugged and could travel over rough terrain. By the early 1940s, the Jeep’s design was complete..."1 "The tough, simple, Jeep® ... became the GI's best friend—second only to his rifle."3
PFC Clifford Olsen was a soldier in the 414th Infantry Regiment of the 104th Infantry Division. He was part of the medical detachment and was a medical technician. The 104th Infantry entered the European Theatre of WWII on Sept. 7, 1944 when they landed in Cherbourg, France. They began a quick march across France and into Belgium and later Germany.
