You can always spot them, even from a good distance away.
When you see an older man saluting the flag at an Independence Day or other patriotic celebration, there is a good chance that he is a veteran of the Korean or Vietnam wars.
In the year 2024, there is only a small chance that he would be a World War II veteran. But I was lucky enough to meet one on July 4 as our national anthem concluded at the Aurora Historical Society’s Tanner House Museum.
Ken Olson is a lifelong Aurora resident and agreed to meet with me to discuss his life and service to our country. As we visited recently, I learned about his military service, but also about his lovely wife Annette and children and his service to our community spanning over 70 years.
Olson was born in Aurora near the end of 1926. He grew up on the East Side, and attended the East Aurora public schools. I was amazed at his memory of his childhood, especially since some of the memories were from more than 90 years ago.
He learned how to play the clarinet at Bardwell School from music teacher Eddie Fitzgerald, and this began his lifelong love of music. He continued to play in the bands in junior high and at East Aurora High School.
“Our high school director was Mr. Rosenbarger,” he said. “He was very good, and was also a World War I veteran. He made us into good musicians.”
After graduating high school in three-and-a-half years, he faced an uncertain future in a world consumed by war. It was the same dilemma which my parents faced, along with millions of others who became known as our Greatest Generation.
“I knew I was coming up to be drafted, but I wanted to get in the Navy,” he said. “I joined the Navy in February of 1945 and was hoping to be in the Navy Band, but instead I was shipped to California. At that point, I sent my clarinet home.”
He first landed in Hawaii, and then was shipped on to Okinawa where he was to receive his assignment. It was aboard a small ship called a YMS, or yard minesweeper. His crew was trained to clear mines to make pathways for U.S. Navy ships for the planned large-scale invasion of Japan.
He was barely 18 years old, and the Navy had lost his sea-bag containing bedding and personal items.
“I didn’t have any clothes, except what I had on my back, for weeks,” he said.
When the war ended in August of 1945, the U.S. invasion of Japan was no longer needed. This saved a countless number of lives, although the war in the Pacific had already claimed the lives of over 100,000 Americans.
The task of discharging U.S. sailors began, and Olson volunteered to stay in for another year to help with that job. He was discharged in August of 1946, and took the slow boat and train rides back to Chicago and then to Aurora.
He attended Aurora College (now Aurora University) for two years, and then the University of Illinois, graduating from there in 1950. He began a job with Western United Gas & Electric Company, which later merged with Commonwealth Edison.
“Eventually I was sent to Chicago and became secretary to the president of the company,” he said. “That was the biggest honor I ever had with the company.”
He served in other management roles, became a district superintendent and eventually retired after 42 years of service.
Away from the job, Olson joined the American Legion in Aurora and was “honored” to eventually become commander of the post at a time when its membership was well over 1,000.
He also joined the American Legion Band, which has been the “pride of Aurora” for now over 80 years. He served in leadership roles such as president and band manager, and said that he has enjoyed it very much. He was a clarinet player in the Legion Band for 60 years.
Annette and Ken were married in 1963, and together raised their children Curt, Julie and Kevin, who now live in Massachusetts, Oklahoma and Texas. All three are musicians and also were members of the Legion Band. Ken and Annette have 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, with another on the way.
Although it’s a difficult question to answer, I asked Ken Olson to summarize his life of service, both to our country and to our community.
“It certainly has been a good life for me, and without Annette, I could not have done any of it,” he said. “I appreciate what she has to go through with some health problems. I’ve had a wonderful life and just hope I can make the big one – 100!”
I also always ask older veterans about their thoughts on patriotism.
“I believe in patriotism, and I’m really very proud to be able to send it on—that I had a part in it,” he said. “The way the world is going today, there are people who no longer appreciate living in this country. I certainly do love it, and have tremendous respect for anybody who is or who has been in the service.”
Attend some of Aurora’s patriotic celebrations. You won’t have to look very hard or wait very long to meet and visit with a true American hero.
Tom Strong is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
