By Krista Finstad Hanson

For the Times

The 79th Division of the U.S. Army activated for service in World War II on June 15, 1942 at Camp Pickett in Virginia. They trained at the Tennessee Maneuver Area and Camp Laguna near Yuma, Arizona and then Camp Phillips in Kansas in 1943. They shipped overseas on April 7, 1944. The division arrived in Liverpool and trained in United Kingdom from April 17 to June of 1944. They landed on Utah Beach in the Normandy invasion from June 12-14, 1944.

The division went on to fight throughout Europe and participated in the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe campaigns. They returned to the U.S. and were inactivated on Dec. 20, 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.

PFC Olin H. Paulson served with Company I of the 313th Infantry Regiment of the 79th Division of the U.S. Army. He was in the anti-tank division.

Olin Helmer Paulson was born on Jan. 7, 1924 in York Township, Green County, Wisconsin to Oscar and Helga (Jacobson) Paulson.

On the 1930 U.S. Census, the Paulson family lived in York Township in Green County. The family included father Oscar, mother Helga, and children Gladys, Hazel, Orion, Adeline, Merlin, Olin, Evelyn, and Julian. Father Oscar was a farmer working on his own account.

On the 1940 U.S. Census, the Paulson family was living in the same place. Olin was the hired hand living with his brother Orion and his wife Myrtle. Olin was 16 and had an 8th grade education.

On June 30, 1942, Olin Helmer Paulson registered for the WWII Draft. His place of residence was York Township in Green County. He was working for his brother Orion Paulson and his next of kin was his father Oscar, both with the mailing address of Blanchardville, which was in Lafayette County.

From the March 8, 1943 The Capital Times article titled “Green County Sends 69 Men to Examination,” the article said, “Exactly 69 Green county men will leave here Wednesday for selective service physical examinations at Ft. Sheridan, Ill. …” The list of men included Olin Paulson of Blanchardville.

From the August 26, 1943 The Capital Times notice titled “To Wed” had a photo of Miss Joyce Peterson. The notice stated “The engagement of Miss Joyce Ethel Peterson to Pvt. Olin H. Paulson…is announced today…Mis Peterson is employed at the Ryan hotel, Blanchardville. Pvt. Paulson is stationed at Ft. Jackson, S. C. No definite date for the wedding has been set.”

Unfortunately, Miss Peterson and Pvt. Paulson were not able to get married.

From the Nov. 1, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal notice, ‘Paulson Killed’ came the information from that “Pfc. Olin H. Paulson, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Paulson, town of York, Green county, was killed in action Oct. 9. 

“He was inducted into service in March 1943, and left for overseas duty last June.

“Survivors include his parents; four sisters, Mrs. Melvin Nelson, Barneveld; Mrs. Morris Nelson, Daleyville, and Gladys and Evelyn, at home, and three brothers, Orion, Beloit and Merlin and Julian, at home.”

From the Nov. 25, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Pfc. Paulson Memorial,” gives further information about Paulson’s military service. The article stated “Pfc. Paulson was inducted into the army Mar. 10, 1943, serving in an anti-tank unit of the 79th Infantry Division. He sailed for overseas duty last spring, arriving in England in May. In June he was sent to France, where he was killed Oct. 9.”

From the May 13, 1948 Blanchardville Blade newspaper article titled “To Return Pfc. Olin Paulson’s Body,” the notice stated his remains would be returned to America next month.

From the May 20, 1948 Blanchardville Blade newspaper article titled “Pfc. Olin Paulson Rites,” that the remains of Pfc. Paulson will arrive at Monroe and be brought to his parents’ home. On Sunday there was to be a memorial service at York Lutheran church.” 

Further information was provided that “Pfc. Paulson was killed in an outpost at the Foret De Paroy Forrest, France, Oct. 9, 1944, and was temporarily interred in Epinal, France cemetery.”

Private First Class Olin H. Paulson was listed on the WWII Gold Star Honor Roll for Lafayette County, Wisconsin. He was repatriated and reburied in York Memorial Lutheran Cemetery in York, Green County, Wisconsin. He received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously.

Thank you, Private First Class Olin Helmer Paulson, for your service to and sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.