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View a eulogy for Robert Leslie Olson, USMA '87, who passed away on February 12, 2001.

Robert Leslie Olson

West Point, 1987

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Marty Holland on February 22, 2001:

I first met Rob during Beast Barracks in the summer of 1983. During most of the ensuing 18 years I had the privilege to serve at the same duty station as Rob including Airborne School and Time as "Drill Cadets" at beautiful Leonard Wood. We went to OBC at Ft Sill, then off to Ft Campbell and the 101st where we were roommates until we both got married within two weeks of each other. We deployed to the desert together. After the desert Rob followed me to OAC and lived in the house that we had rented during the previous OAC. Next we journeyed to Hawaii where we also served together and where Holly delivered our first child, Erin. After Hawaii, I spent two years in Chapel Hill, NC while Rob remained in Hawaii (our only "PCS separation"). However, we were rejoined at West Point where Rob served as a TAC and I was an instructor in the Department of History. While at West Point, Holly also delivered our second child, Christopher. One of my favorite memories of our time at West Point was a night when Rob was the OC at Central Guard Room and I was the AOC (Academic OC) we both had a good laugh and we were sure that Sylvanus Thayer himself would be shocked to think that Rob O was in charge of "good order and discipline" for the corps while I was in charge of study conditions!! Truly, the inmates had taken over the asylum!! Last year the Hollands and Olsons PCS'ed together once again to Fort Leavenworth, and again we enjoyed many fun times togther. One of the highlights of the year was an RV "road trip" that Rob conceived for 9 MAJORS to journey to Colorado for the ARMY vs Air Force game. An understatement would be to say that "a good time was had by all." After CGSC, Rob and Holly headed back to Hawaii while Anne and I returned to Ft Campbell and the 101st. Rob and I joked that the only rationale for taking different assignments was that we were both returning to previous duty stations where we knew the lay of the land.

Tuesday I attended Rob's funeral in Minnesota. It was a fitting ceremony for a great husband, father, comrade, and friend. Everyone who attended was deeply touched and just the ability to share our grief eased our collective pain. It was also a time of great reflection and it made me realize how truly blessed I am for having known Rob for so many years in so many places. I will always treasure the memories of the many adventures that we shared. I also realized how blessed my family has been to have had Holly deliver both of our children and to watch our kids play with Brittany and TJ.
I apologize for the length of this note (apparently still a bit of the history "P" in me). However, I also remembered a poem that another military hero treasured and I thought that it reflected Rob's life much better (and more concisely) than I ever could:

SOLDIER

I was that which others did not want to be.
I went where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do.
I asked nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness .....should I fail.
I have seen the face of terror; felt the stinging cold of fear;
and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's love.
I have cried, pained and hoped....but most of all,
I have lived times others would say are best forgotten.
At least someday I will be able to say that I am proud of what I was.... soldier.

Copyright 1978 by George L. Skypeck

We will always keep the Olson family in our thoughts and prayers and we will continue to count our blessings for our friendship.

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