Wilfred C. OliverMy American Hero

A BiographyBy: Kavanagh W.C. Oliver

Wilfred C. OliverMy American Hero

By: Kavanagh W.C. Oliver

2012Young Authors Book

5th Grade – Mrs. NicholsGemini Elementary

Melbourne Beach, Florida

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my 2 Grandfathers:My Poppi: David Ernst Bulterman Sr.

a US Navy Vietnam Veteran, In the memory of my: Grandpa Olivera WWII, Korean & Vietnam War Veteran,

and for ALL the United States

Armed Forces Veterans who have served our country with pride.

Thank you ALL Uniformed Service members, Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Marines

for your service!

Wilfred Claude (W.C.) Oliver is my Dad’s father.

My Dad: Kevin R. Oliver and my Grandpa: WC “Bill” Oliver 1993

He was born on April 15, 1925 as a twin to William Raymond and Bertha Maude (Ferguson) Oliver,

his twin brother Willie Carl died at birth.

W.C. Oliver Age 9

He was the fourth of 10 children born in Richview, Illinois and his family called him Willie as a child and he was called Bill when he grew

up. They lived in a cabin with no electricity, an outhouse and only a well that they needed to draw the water up with a bucket in.

Instead of going to school on a regular basis my Grandpa’s Dad had him working around their farm.

He only got about an 8th grade education until he returned from the war, then he received a diploma.

My Grandpa’s family in 1940 (My Grandpa is the 3rd from the right)

My Grandpa’s family was so poor they hardly had shoes to wear and very little food. At a very young age he was forced to hunt rabbits and

squirrels to eat. At the age of 14 my Grandpa worked at the CCC - Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC camps were started by President

Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 and were located in areas that needed work

to be done for conservation, each camp employed up to 200 people.

Reserve officers from the US Army were in charge of the camps, but there was no real military training for the civilians, although they would

recruit young men for active duty service, once WWII broke out.

Civilian Conservation Corps Camp souvenir and a US Army Emblem

It is thought that my Grandpa decided to lie about his age and join the Army because of the recruiters from the CCC camps after the Japanese

attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He believed anything would have been better than what he was doing or the way he was

living. He was caught shortly after and was sent back home, but not for long. A few months later he enlisted in the US Navy in February of 1942, again lying about his age, (he was really only 16 years old!)

My Great Grandma Maude, my Grandpa Wilfred Claude & his father (my Great Grandpa) William Oliver February 21, 1942.

The day he enlisted in the Navy, with his CCC Uniform on.

It was said that most teens during that time period lied about their age to join the service early because the great depression had been bad for families and the military offered food, shelter, clothing and a job.

You could sign up at the age of 17 if you had your parents’ permission and they signed for you.

He Enlisted: February 21, 1942 in St. Louis, MO.

After Basic Training he was assigned to the USS Dallas.

My Grandpa’s 1st Ship – USS Dallas (DD199)

The USS Dallas (DD-199) was 314 feet, 4 inches long. It was considered to be a small WWI era

Clemson Class Destroyer that held a total of 130 enlisted sailors & officers.Official Navy Muster Roll –

February 4, 1943 USS Dallas (DD-199) Sea2c

February 8, 1943 USS Dallas left Norfolk, VA to an “Unknown” Destination

My Grandpa’s Navy Portrait

Official Navy Muster Roll –

March 3, 1943 = USS Dallas (DD-199) Destination: Gibraltar arrived: April 14, 1943

My Grandpa didn’t turn 18 until April 15th of 1943, the day after they landed and was thought to have celebrated his “legal”

birthday on the ship. May 9, 1943 = USS Dallas (DD-199) Destination:

Oran, Algeria arrived: May 23, 1943July 9 – 12th 1943 = USS Dallas (DD-199)

Amphibious Battle of Sicily August 8, 1943 = USS Dallas (DD-199)

According to the official Navy Muster roll my Grandfather on August 29, 1943 was transferred to COMNAVNAW which was his transfer back

to the base in North Africa, when he was wounded.

Crew of USS Dallas at Presidential Citation Ceremony

The entire crew of the USS-Dallas (DD-199) was awarded the Presidential Citation and 4 Battle Stars for WWII service. My Grandpa received a battle star citation, but not at a ceremony. He was wounded

in the leg by a bullet that ricocheted off the deck of the ship from a German Airplane. He spent several weeks in a field hospital in Northern

Africa. He was also a Purple Heart recipient.

Once my Grandfather recovered, he was transported to the YMS-55 which was a small wooden-hull Class I Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper.

It was 136 feet long and was used during World War II for inshore sweeping to prepare the way for amphibious assaults. This was said to

be the sister ship, which later became the Calypso (whose Captain was the famous under water explorer: Jacques Cousteau.) My Grandpa’s shipmates from the YMS-55 all called him Oliver and one of them

(Mr. Bill Matthews) said; “we didn’t know why… but Oliver just showed up one day.” They had gone back to the base in Northern Africa to drop off some sailors that were sea-sick and picked

up my Grandpa. My Grandpa was described as a quick learner, hard working & easy going.

Official Navy Muster Roll – November 30, 1943 = YMS-55December 31, 1943 = YMS-55

Grandpa’s Navy Shipmates from the YMS-55 My Grandpa is the man standing on the far left, the man with his arm around him is Bill Matthews

and Salty Dog is in the far right bottom.

The crew also raised a dog on the ship and they named him Salty Dog. Mr. Matthews ended up taking the dog back to the United States and let Salty finish his life out with his family. They said Salty was really in

charge.

Salty Dog on the YMS-55

My Grandpa (W.C. Oliver) in the Navy 1943 in Sicily.

Grandpa in Sicily with some Italian children.

While stationed in Sicily, my Grandpa learned to speak Italian very quickly, so he was chosen

to guard prisoners. Every night more and more prisoners started showing up because he was

feeding them the rations off the ship.

He once got a “Dear John” letter from his girlfriend back in the States; the entire crew

of the YMS-55 supported him. They all gave him photos of their girl. My Grandpa sent them all

to her telling her that he couldn’t remember what she looked liked, so if she could take out her photo

and send rest back he’d appreciate it.

The Allied Invasion of Sicily codenamed: Operation Husky was being done in Gela and Syracuse. The

YMS-55 had made 4 invasions of their own, heading north up the coast of Italy. The first invasion was in 1943 in Palermo, Sicily. The second

was in Salerno, Italy, the third was in Anzio, Italy near Rome and the last was near Marseille, France. On September 30, 1944 the crew of the

YMS-55 turned the ship over to The French Navy for transfer. The crew then went on a LCT (Landing Craft) for 3 days, and went back to the

base in Africa for 1 month on a LST (Landing Ship Tank.)

LCT Landing Craft Tank LST Landing Ship tank

World War II officially ended in 1945. My Grandpa was honorably discharged out of the Navy on

July 20, 1948 in San Diego, California.

Navy Muster Discharge - 1948

After his career in the Navy, my Grandpa worked in Joliet State Prison as a Prison Guard for several years.

My Grandpa decided to join the Air Force in 1953 during the Korean War Conflict. Joining the service was something that his family did; it

was a “military tradition.” His brother’s: James Kenneth “Kennie”

joined the Coast Guard and another brother; Leonard “Lennie” also joined the Military, as well as several brother-in-laws in other branches

of service.

My Great Uncle Kennie Oliver (USCG) and my Grandpa W.C. 1957

Grandma & Grandpa Oliver 1960 The W.C. Oliver family 1967

My Grandpa and Grandma Oliver were married on May 14, 1960 at Hancock Air Force Base in Syracuse, New York. The

picture (on right) with the family is with my Dad (he’s the baby) and my Uncle; William Carl (who also served in the Military for a short time, when he was of age.) My Grandpa was stationed in Thule, Greenland from 1963-1964. In 1968-1969 he had to leave for Monkey Mountain;

De Nang, Vietnam, when he came back everyone said that my Dad (who was only 3 years old at the time) wouldn’t recognize who he was, but he

did and ran across the air field into my Grandpa’s arms. My Grandpa was also based at Rapid City; South Dakota, Abilene; Texas, Biloxi;

Mississippi as well as Hancock Field in Syracuse, NY where he retired January of 1970 specializing in Radar Computer Operations.

My Grandfather had an awesome career in the Air Force serving in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars

and retiring as a Master Sergeant with over 20 years of total Military service. He died

August 30, 1995 even before my parents were married. He was buried in the Military Cemetery with full Military Honors in Sackets Harbor, NY which is where General Zebulon Pike; (the name-sake of Pike’s

Peek in Colorado) is also buried.

Although I never met him, I love hearing the stories about him. I am very proud of his service to our country.He will always be My American Hero.

In Memory of W.C. OliverWWII, Korean & Vietnam War Veteran

My Grandpa’s grave at the Military Cemetery in Sackets Harbor, NY

The End

My family visiting with Mr. & Mrs. Matthews 2012

I was able to complete this project with the help of Mr. Bill Matthews (a shipmate of my Grandpa Oliver’s on the YMS-55) and his wife Barb. I got information from several family members including: my Grandma; MaryAnn Oliver, My Dad; Kevin and My Great Uncle; Kennie, as well as I got information off the internet from sites: Wikipedia, self-service Archives, www.history and Navsource.org I also wish to thank my Mom for helping me with research, typing and the layout of the pictures used.

About the Young Author:

Kavanagh Oliver has written 5 books. He lives in Melbourne Beach, Florida

with his Dad; Kevin, Mom; Dara, younger sister; Delaney and two dogs Shiloh and Sylvie Willow.

This May his family is moving to Misenheimer, North Carolina and he is excited about entering Middle School.

Kavanagh is a natural athlete and enjoys shooting, swimming, surfing, baseball, and boxing.

He has recently been taking guitar lessons and really enjoys playing his electric guitar at home.

He is a caring and sensitive child that has a great sense of humor.

Kavanagh would like to become an airline pilot, just like his Dad.

BOOK #6 – My American HeroOther Books by Kavanagh include:

The Go CartIf I were Boss…Characters of Star Wars that I’d like to be!B-2 Bomber “Spirit – Stealth”My Life ~ an Autobiography

On their last invasion in Southern France the YMS-55 overshot, got tangled up and hit another minesweeper in front of them. They had to be pulled backwards into port, which was an embarrassment to the Captain.