STEVEN OLSEN SITTING ON THE HOOD OF HIS TRUCK WHILE SERVING WITH 1ST MOTOR TRANSPORTATION BATTALION IN JUNE 1966, THE OTHER MARINE'S NAME IS NOT KNOWN.   HE SAID IN A LETTER HE HAD TO POUND ON THE CARBURATOR OF THIS TRUCK WHEN IT WOULD FLOOD OUT.  HE ALSO SAID IN A LETTER A FRIEND OF HIS, LCPL SNEED, HIT A LAND MINE WITH HIS TRUCK BUT THE SAND BAGS ON THE FLOOD BOARD KEPT HIM FROM GETTING SERIOUS INJURIES.  HIS EARDRUMS WERE SHATTERED AND HE WAS SENT STATESIDE

STEVEN'S FRIEND, BOB ASHTON, AT 1ST MOTOR T, IN JUNE OF 1966.   STEVEN WROTE HOME, AROUND THIS TIME THAT HE HAD HELPED A LITTLE VIETNAMESE GIRL WITH A CUT FOOT, USING HIS FIRST AID KIT

STEVEN RECEIVING HIS NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL
AT 1ST MOTOR T., NOVEMBER 1966

STEVEN'S NAVY COMMENDATION CITATION

SOME OF STEVEN'S FRIENDS AT 1ST MOTOR T, DECEMBER 1966

STEVEN NEXT TO HIS TRUCK DECEMBER 1966

STEVEN AND SOME OF HIS FRIENDS AT FIRST MOTOR T.  IN STEVE'S LETTER HOME OF DECEMBER 4, 1966 HE WRITES, " SEND MY 45 RPM RECORDS.   BE CAREFUL PACKING,  I'M BUYING A STEREO RECORD PLAYER ON PAYDAY FOR $85.00 AT THE PX".   HE ALSO WROTE HE WAS SENDING HIS BROTHER GLENN A SOUTH VIETNAMESE FLAG

STEVEN WITH HIS FRIEND LARRY WALKER.  HE ALSO LIKED RECEIVING PACKAGES FROM HOME, PARTICULARLY FIG NEWTONS BUT HE DID ASK FOR NO MORE SPAM

STEVEN AND ANOTHER MARINE WITH VIETNAMESE CHILDREN

PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN BY STEVEN IN DECEMBER 1967 BEFORE GOING HOME ON AN EXTENSION LEAVE.  THE MARINE ON THE FAR LEFT IS RICK MORSE FROM RENO, NEVADA, BEHIND HIM IS MCQUEEN FROM PHILADELHIA, 'DOC' JOHN NEWMAN IS BAREFOOTED AND WEARING GLASSES IN THE CENTER, NEXT TO 'DOC' IS THOUGHT TO BE SGT. PAUL JOHNSON (KIA APRIL 1968) AND ON THE FAR RIGHT IS STEVE MARKLEY.  IF ANYONE IS SURE OF THE NAMES OF THE OTHERS PLEASE LET US KNOW THEIR NAMES

STEVEN WITH AN UNKNOWN MARINE WEARING HIS LUCKY HAT

STEVEN WITH A GROUP OF STUDENTS AT A SCHOOL IN MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA WHERE HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THE WAR IN VIETNAM.  FOR MORE ON THIS SEE STEVE'S STORY IN THE STORIES SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE, CLICK THE PHOTOGRAPH BELOW.  THAT STORY AND THE LETTERS STEVE EXCHANGED, ALONG WITH THE PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE WERE SUBMITTED BY HIS FRIEND PARK MYERS JR. WHO SERVED WITH STEVEN THE DELTA CAP UNITS, IN 1968

CORPORAL STEVEN WAYNE OLSEN
WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN AN AMBUSH NEAR HOI AN, RVN ON MAY 23, 1968, ALONG WITH GYSGT. TOM ACTON