The following are parts of letters sent by: Pfc then later Sgt Oscar Olson, Company L, 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division 1944-45
July 5,1944 Dear Mom, I have moved again and have landed safely in France. We landed at the same place where they made the beach landing. You ought to see how those pills boxes on the beaches are shot up. Yesterday I saw my first German plane shot down. It was serveral miles away, but they were pretty high up so that I could see it. I guess the German came over for a look around and three of our planes shot him down. Last night we passed through some small villages that had taken a tough beating from our artillery. We passed through one big town where almost every house in the town was gutted. Some buildings were leveled to the ground. At the present I am sitting we about 10 miles from the front. We can hear the big guns roaring all the time. We may see action soon but don't worry about me. I can take care of myself. Love, Oscar
July 7,1944 Dear Mom, It has been 2 days since I wrote you last. We have moved up closer to the front lines but we have not seen any action yet. We can hear the German machine guns shooting because they have such funny sound. The place where we are is certainly peaceful. If it weren't for the guns roaring all the time in the distance you'd never know there was a war on. I haven't seen any German planes with the exception of the one I mentioned in my last letter. We really have control of the air. The French sure seem glad to see us. When we pass through their towns the shout and wave to us and clap their hands............. Love, Oscar
July 16,1944 Dear Mom, I am sorry that I couldn't write to you sooner. We have been moving around a lot since I last wrote you. We saw a little action, and boy was I scared but I came out of it allright, this was several days ago..... This is a funny war, it seems to be fought with artillery and airplanes with the infantry mopping up. Love, Oscar July 28,1944
Dear Mom, Still resting somewhere in France, we may move out soon but nobody really knows the score. No one ever does on a battlefield. I guess you were surprised to find that I became Sgt. but you weren't any more surprised then I was when I heard it. Things really happen fast around here..... Love, Oscar
July 24,1944 Dear Mom, .......The person who said the war was 95% waiting + 5% action sure was right. The farm people around here moved out....and all the cattle were left....so the fellows are milking them. We have fresh milk every day. An artillery shell hit about 5 fields away ...and now we are having steak also. These fellows sure make the best out of a bad situation. Love, Oscar
Aug. 23,1944 Dear Folks, I'm not doing much of anything right now, just running around cleaning out pockets of Germans here and there. Last week we captured over 400 prisoners. That is where I got this stationary. It's kind of rough but we can't be to choosey....We are getting ready to take another pocket, I hope the Germans don't put up much of a fight because it will only make it tougher for themselves. Love, Oscar
Sept. 2,1944 Dear Mom, I have been on the front lines for a while but I'm back now and not even a scratch from a briar. So far God has been with me. He must be saving me for something special, I hope what ever it is, it's after the war. Love, Oscar
Oct. 6,1944 Dear Mom, I just found out today that I can tell you that I was in Brest. After the battle was over they shipped us by train through France and Belgium and now we are in Luxemberg. We passed close to Paris but all could see was the top of the Eifel Tower away off on the horizon. We are taking things easy righth now. We don't know when we are going to see action again....... Love, Oscar
1945 Apr 25 Western Union To: Olof Olson 2036 45th Avenue Oakland, CA The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret that your son Sgt Olson Oscar H has been missing in action in Germany........... J.A. Ulio The Adjutant General (He was captured 25 Feb 1944 and returned to U.S. control 30 March 1944)