Don Mueller

Medal of Honor recipient Ken Olson from Paynesville, MN

Congressional Medal of Honor memorial for Ken Olson.

Ken Olson was a fellow student on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota. Ken was drafted in the Fall of 1967. After only three weeks in country Vietnam, he died on May 13, 1968. He was serving in the 199th Infantry Brigade and when his platoon moved into contact with a well-entrenched Viet Cong force, Sp4c Olson and a fellow soldier moved forward to investigate a line of bunkers.

As the two men advanced, they were pinned down by automatic weapons fire. Ken prepared to hurl a grenade, he was wounded, causing him to drop the grenade. Realizing that it would explode, he threw himself upon the grenade, saving his companion. The man saved is Gary Lindley.

In 1995, a plaque honoring Ken Olson was dedicated on the St Paul campus of the university.

Many lives have been touched by this terrible war. This memorial without a doubt will help heal many broken hearts.

Gary Lindley sent me this letter:

"Dear Brother Don,
Thank you for your concern and the honor of being a part of this very special occasion. There is no doubt in my heart that from the very day two years ago this June when a man from In Touch-Friends of the Vietnam Memorial approached me and my wife Virginia, asking if we knew someone whose name was on the wall, that he might contact the Olson family, from the first letter I received sent by the Olsons through the many we have written to each other unto now, that God was and is moving on this union and dedication.

I have very strong belief because of the wonderful personal letters from my new family in Christ, that the Olsons are a family who loves Jesus very much. In one of the letters they shared with me how Kenneth must have prayed for my lost soul way back then. Eleven years ago that prayer was answered for him when I received Jesus as my lord and Savior. My God does answer prayers in his perfect timing."

Don:

"What we are experiencing now is not just a coincidence or something that would happen looking at it through the eyes of the world. This is something that no man could put together with all the computers. I can't explain it myself, but I do believe that God's loving hand is on this and we must realize this and that He receive all the glory for this happening. The Olsons asked me if I would have some input for the memorial. This memorial service has been in the making for some 27 years now, it didn't just start recently.

Let us pay honor not only to Kenneth and other Vietnam Veterans, but to our Lord foremost and especially. Many lives have been touched by this terrible war. This memorial without a doubt will help heal many broken hearts."

postscript - Gary Lindley now lives in Arizona. He did not know about the Medal of Honor until the first letter from the Olsons in 1992. The plaque was designed by Roger Brodin and is in the Student Center of the St. Paul Campus. The Paynesville, Mn American legion has purchased another plaque and it is displayed in Paynesville.

Last year, highway 23 going through Paynesville was dedicated as the Kenneth Olson memorial highway.