There was a very special occasion at the Clearwater American Legion last Saturday.

 

Dozens of people gathered there to recognize, and celebrate the life of John Pershing Olson, who turned 100 years old last week.

 

Olson is one of a dwindling group of World War II veterans, and members of the Clearwater/Clear Lake Honor Guard, along with family, friends and members of the Legion, lined up in a flag line outside the building upon his arrival.

 

The Honor Guard gave him a 21-gun salute, then everyone followed Olson inside to greet him and share a meal.

 

Olson was born in Graceville, MN  Nov. 19, 1918. He enlisted in the Army at in 1937 and served at Fort Snelling until 1940.

 

But his service didn’t end there. After the war broke out, he was drafted back into the Army in 1944.

 

“He had a wife and three kids by then,” said his son John. “But that didn’t matter back then.”

 

Olson was put on a ship and traveled 19 days to the Philippines, where he served through 1946 as a member of the 3rd Infantry Division.

 

“He doesn’t say much now,” said Karen Olson, the wife of John’s grandson, Jeff. “I know he hates buffets, Chinese food - and scrambled eggs. He never liked the powdered eggs they served in the Army.”

 

Saturday, there were five generations of Olsons at the Legion, and a few who hadn’t met John or seen him in years. They had a chance to talk with him, view a slide show about his life and learn a little history at the same time.