Ole was the 8th of 9 children and the youngest son born to Icelanders, Ed and Margret Olson. They lived in a primarily Icelandic part of Spanish Fork. Not much is known of his early life.
On 2 December 1918 during the middle of the Great Flu Epidemic Ole's father died of stomach cancer at age 63. Ole was 7 years old at the time. His mother was 39 years old and still had four young children left in the house to raise alone.
Tragedy struck the family again in 1925 when an automobile hit his mother, Margret while she was driving a horse drawn buggy with several of her children inside including Ole. The collision caused the buggy to overturn, the only person seriously injured was his mother, she broke several ribs. Unfortunately, her injuries were severe and she contracted bronchitis as a result. She died at her home several months later leaving six children orphaned three of which were still living at home, the oldest being William (Bill) was 15, then Ole was 14 and finally Sophia Elizabeth (Beth) was 13 years old. She also left behind her mother and six brothers and sisters. She was 45 years old.
Ole who was 14 at the time of his mother's death had a difficult time. He was quite angry about his life. Finally after multiple arrests the town sheriff gave him an ultimatum: join the Navy or go to jail. Ole chose the Navy. The Bishop forged a baptismal certificate showing that Old was born in 1909 and so at 16 years of age he shipped out for the U.S. Navy. When Ole left town the sheriff said that either the Navy would make him a man or break him. Within the first few years Ole met a woman, got married and together they had a daughter. Ole found that he loved the Navy and did well, but the Navy kept him away from his young family and he soon found himself divorced. Not being there to raise his daughter was probably his greatest regret. He continued his education and stayed in the Navy until he was forced to retire after thirty years. He fought courageously in World War II and Korea as well as several other campaigns. After traveling the world he eventually settled in Southern California with his last wife, Denise, where they had two daughters.
On 2 December 1918 during the middle of the Great Flu Epidemic Ole's father died of stomach cancer at age 63. Ole was 7 years old at the time. His mother was 39 years old and still had four young children left in the house to raise alone.
Tragedy struck the family again in 1925 when an automobile hit his mother, Margret while she was driving a horse drawn buggy with several of her children inside including Ole. The collision caused the buggy to overturn, the only person seriously injured was his mother, she broke several ribs. Unfortunately, her injuries were severe and she contracted bronchitis as a result. She died at her home several months later leaving six children orphaned three of which were still living at home, the oldest being William (Bill) was 15, then Ole was 14 and finally Sophia Elizabeth (Beth) was 13 years old. She also left behind her mother and six brothers and sisters. She was 45 years old.
Ole who was 14 at the time of his mother's death had a difficult time. He was quite angry about his life. Finally after multiple arrests the town sheriff gave him an ultimatum: join the Navy or go to jail. Ole chose the Navy. The Bishop forged a baptismal certificate showing that Old was born in 1909 and so at 16 years of age he shipped out for the U.S. Navy. When Ole left town the sheriff said that either the Navy would make him a man or break him. Within the first few years Ole met a woman, got married and together they had a daughter. Ole found that he loved the Navy and did well, but the Navy kept him away from his young family and he soon found himself divorced. Not being there to raise his daughter was probably his greatest regret. He continued his education and stayed in the Navy until he was forced to retire after thirty years. He fought courageously in World War II and Korea as well as several other campaigns. After traveling the world he eventually settled in Southern California with his last wife, Denise, where they had two daughters.
Ole was the 8th of 9 children and the youngest son born to Icelanders, Ed and Margret Olson. They lived in a primarily Icelandic part of Spanish Fork. Not much is known of his early life.
On 2 December 1918 during the middle of the Great Flu Epidemic Ole's father died of stomach cancer at age 63. Ole was 7 years old at the time. His mother was 39 years old and still had four young children left in the house to raise alone.
Tragedy struck the family again in 1925 when an automobile hit his mother, Margret while she was driving a horse drawn buggy with several of her children inside including Ole. The collision caused the buggy to overturn, the only person seriously injured was his mother, she broke several ribs. Unfortunately, her injuries were severe and she contracted bronchitis as a result. She died at her home several months later leaving six children orphaned three of which were still living at home, the oldest being William (Bill) was 15, then Ole was 14 and finally Sophia Elizabeth (Beth) was 13 years old. She also left behind her mother and six brothers and sisters. She was 45 years old.
Ole who was 14 at the time of his mother's death had a difficult time. He was quite angry about his life. Finally after multiple arrests the town sheriff gave him an ultimatum: join the Navy or go to jail. Ole chose the Navy. The Bishop forged a baptismal certificate showing that Old was born in 1909 and so at 16 years of age he shipped out for the U.S. Navy. When Ole left town the sheriff said that either the Navy would make him a man or break him. Within the first few years Ole met a woman, got married and together they had a daughter. Ole found that he loved the Navy and did well, but the Navy kept him away from his young family and he soon found himself divorced. Not being there to raise his daughter was probably his greatest regret. He continued his education and stayed in the Navy until he was forced to retire after thirty years. He fought courageously in World War II and Korea as well as several other campaigns. After traveling the world he eventually settled in Southern California with his last wife, Denise, where they had two daughters.
On 2 December 1918 during the middle of the Great Flu Epidemic Ole's father died of stomach cancer at age 63. Ole was 7 years old at the time. His mother was 39 years old and still had four young children left in the house to raise alone.
Tragedy struck the family again in 1925 when an automobile hit his mother, Margret while she was driving a horse drawn buggy with several of her children inside including Ole. The collision caused the buggy to overturn, the only person seriously injured was his mother, she broke several ribs. Unfortunately, her injuries were severe and she contracted bronchitis as a result. She died at her home several months later leaving six children orphaned three of which were still living at home, the oldest being William (Bill) was 15, then Ole was 14 and finally Sophia Elizabeth (Beth) was 13 years old. She also left behind her mother and six brothers and sisters. She was 45 years old.
Ole who was 14 at the time of his mother's death had a difficult time. He was quite angry about his life. Finally after multiple arrests the town sheriff gave him an ultimatum: join the Navy or go to jail. Ole chose the Navy. The Bishop forged a baptismal certificate showing that Old was born in 1909 and so at 16 years of age he shipped out for the U.S. Navy. When Ole left town the sheriff said that either the Navy would make him a man or break him. Within the first few years Ole met a woman, got married and together they had a daughter. Ole found that he loved the Navy and did well, but the Navy kept him away from his young family and he soon found himself divorced. Not being there to raise his daughter was probably his greatest regret. He continued his education and stayed in the Navy until he was forced to retire after thirty years. He fought courageously in World War II and Korea as well as several other campaigns. After traveling the world he eventually settled in Southern California with his last wife, Denise, where they had two daughters.
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