Milton Lee Olive III

[Spinner]

I thought I would post this up now, as the anniversary of Milton's action is approaching.

I first heard about Milton Olive in grade school a couple of years after he died. His story had made it into a history textbook, and as a 7 year old I was just amazed that another person would do what he did. I've read a lot of citations over the years, but this one sticks, and not just because he was also from Chicago.

If anybody ever visits Chicago, I would suggest a visit to Olive Park, which is located on the lakefront right next to Navy Pier. It's a beautiful park, and a nice setting to just sit and reflect. Wonderful tribute to this man.

http://www.mishalov.com/Olive.html

http://www.medalofhonor.com/MiltonOlive.htm

[triumph]

Glad someone posted this. I remember before I joined the Navy, I would always run by that park in the winter, never knowing whyit was named the way it was. One day, I decided to actually run through it and saw the memorial. A beautifull park for a heroic feat.

If you are ever in Chicago, they have a museum on the south side, I'd like to say 16 or 18th street or something like that, that consists of artwork by Vietnam veterans.

A little history note, Chicago government was farely supportive of soldiers in Vietnam, as if you mailed them a letter with your unit information, the city would send a Chicago flag out to your unit in the field.

[Spinner]

Originally Posted by triumph

If you are ever in Chicago, they have a museum on the south side, I'd like to say 16 or 18th street or something like that, that consists of artwork by Vietnam veterans.

A little history note, Chicago government was farely supportive of soldiers in Vietnam, as if you mailed them a letter with your unit information, the city would send a Chicago flag out to your unit in the field.

Here's the website. By coincidence, the museum is located just south of where the old Chicago MEPS was located.

http://www.nvvam.org

As for the city sending flags, on many occasions the soldier from Chicago would receive not only a flag, but a personal note from Mayor Daley. He was in attendance with Milton's father the day he was presented his son's MOH. Considering the current Mayor Daley's son Patrick has enlisted as an 11B and is scheduled for deployment in the future, I wouldn't be surprised if you see at least one City of Chicago flag out there wherever he might be.

[ODA 564]

As a brand-new 2LT at the Infantry Officer Basic Course (and later as a not-so-new 1LT at the Advanced Course) I did PT on Olive Field, across from Infantry Hall at FOrt Benning, GA.

[triumph]

Olive Field, never connected it at the time when I was at Benning for Airborne school and we did our Navy/Marine pre-screen test.

Small world.