Today I thought I’d talk a little about my great-grandfather George Tolaf Olsen, a World War I veteran, in honor of Memorial day.  He did not die in action, but I haven’t unearthed a direct Olsen/Almquist relative yet that has died in action. George was Nadine (Olsen) Wilson’s father.

George was born and lived in Pocatello, Idaho most of his life.  He was 23 when he entered service.  Seven years after the war he married Cecilia Girton.

As you can see from the headstone George was in the 89th Engineers Division, and was in the Engineers 314th.  According to the link I found here the 89th Division was comprised of soldiers from Kansas, Missouri, Arizona New Mexico, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Colorado. They trained at Camp Funston in Fort Riley, Kansas.  The nickname for them was the Rolling “W” Division or Middle West Division and their Major General Commanding was Frank L. Winn.  They were engaged in Argonne, Rhine. Their shoulder/sleeve insignia looked like this:

Their overseas deployment began May 24, 1918, and the unit arrived in France in June.  For its good work during the Meuse-Argonne offensive the 89th Division was chosen to become part of the Army of Occupation.  The division captured 5,061 prisoners, was quiet 55 days and active 28.  They moved 48 kilometers.

For more on what the engineers typically did you can go here.  For a history of where their movements and activities in Europe were, and to see my main source for the details above, you can go here.

Be sure to appreciate some of that dearly won freedom today!