Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

"9/8/23
Miss you brother… Hope you’re doing well. Trying to live life the best I can. Wish you had more time… But I’ll see you on the other side someday down the line. Cheers hOOLIGAN,
Love you brother!!!"
Brian Lamb of Bethlehem, Pa

"I love you guys so much"
Christi Glines of Franklin Wisconsin 53132

"I am so sorry what happened to you I will be praying for you I love"
Christi Glines of Franklin Wisconsin 53132

"Rest in peace marine. We serve together at his first duty station Alpha 1/10. "nightmare forever" Iraq 2003."
Cpl. Kelvin harvey of Talbotton, ga.

"Just adopted this brave young man at the Boots on the Ground biker event in Jacksonville, FL. on May 10th. We will try to keep his memory alive. Thank you Marine for giving your all so that we can be free. Love and prayers to God for you and your family. Next week Vinnie will be taking his picture up to Washington DC for Rolling Thunder and Memorial Day festivities."
Denise Buck-Mangels of Jacksonville, FL. USA

"Still missing you brother!! I know you're up there with the rest of the Marines holding things down until the rest of us join you... Olson family y'all are in my thoughts, Semper Fi 1/26/2012"
Brian Lamb of Dallas, Texas

"My son CPL Daniel Hernandez was station in Camp Lejeune N.C.toguether with John T. Olson they were good friends and I will never forget the day that my son call me to tell me that John was gone it was about a week he was to be deployed back to Iraq, When my son came back from Iraq all Jhon's friends spend that Thanksgiven with John's parents and grand parents...HE IS GONE BUT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTEN."
Mirza Hernandez of Homestead,Florida

"Dear Olson family,

My name is Steven Giannetto and I am a veteran of 3rd Bn 8th Marines, i was with John the day that he died. I will never forget that day, and if it would be a comfort to you I would love to tell you about that day. Please feel free to contact me at steveg327@gmail.com. Semper Fidelis"
Sgt Steven Giannetto of Rochester NY

"cpl olson was my next door neibhor since he got to camp lejeune he shared rooms with my best friend carlos carballo i remember the first time i met him i was a sgt already and he was i belive a pfc he passed by my room and i was listening to cannibal corpse he stopped and told me thats the best freaking death metal band out there im like who are you he introduced himself and since then we became good friends we went to a cannibal corpse concert rigth before we got deplyed the first time hard charger,motivated marine i miss him not only the marine but as my friend a very good one rest in peace brther we love you."
sgt santiago,josue of chicago,il

"Thank you. Nothing more need be said."
BWM of EG

"February 4, 2009
To the family of Cpl. John T. Olson:
John gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org"
Peggy Childers of Carson City, NV

"Jan.6th 2009 john, you are still missed like crazy. your still my favorite hOOLIGAN. lol i'll never forget ya brother!!!!!"
Brian Lamb of mckinney, tx

"10/31/08

I worked with John at UPS and even though I didn't know him very well I still remember the remarkable sense of humor he had about the crappy jobs we had at UPS. We need more light hearted people in the world like you John. God bless you."
Steve Z of Palatine, IL

"I am forever grateful to those who fight for our country. And in memory of those fallen servicemembers: let it be known that their lives and all that they were will never be forgotten. May peace be with those who serve and the ones they leave behind."
Brenda Borrego-Gonzales of San Antonio, Texas

"Olson Family, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year.
Jan. 6, 2007"
The Lambs of McKinney, Tx

"I miss you bro!!! CHEERS to you and your Faminily and Friends!!!!!!!"
Brian Lamb of McKinney ,Tx

"To the family of:John T. Olson I am so sorry for the loss of your love one. My heart cries out for you in your grief and you have my thoughts and prayers. He died a hero defending freedom. May you have the peace and understanding that only comes from God. Prayerfully we will all meet in Heaven one day where we will rest in the arms of Jesus. If you need prayer or need someone to talk to, please call or write my pastor: Rev. John Pearrell 11677 Brown Bridge Rd., Covington, GA 30016. (770)787-1015. Your friend in Jesus Christ, Polly Ballew Covington,Ga"

"My name is Cameron Schilling and I have started “Portrait of a Soldier” which donates a portrait sketch of every Illinois soldier who has fallen in Iraq or Afghanistan. All 122 sketches will be on display for a Memorial Day Presentation in Chicago, Illinois on May 26-31 at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago. After the ceremony the sketches will be given to the immediate families of the Illinois soldiers. I would invite any friends or family members to come and honor these men and women from Illinois who have given their lives to our country. For more information please contact OperationHomeFront.org at 866-417-8889 which is an organization headed by the Lt. Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois who is in charge of the Memorial Day Presentation. Thank You.

Please check out www.portraitofasoldier.org
To contact Cameron email cameronschilling84@hotmail.com
To contact Operation Home Front call 866-417-8889"
Cameron Schilling of Charleston, Illinois

"Miss you ollie, may you find your peace"
cpl. Christopher James Theis of SanAntonio texas

"My name is Cameron Schilling. I am a college student from central Illinois. I am the first generation of my family not to serve his country. I am extremely grateful for the sacrifice you and your loved one has given for the United States. I am disappointed by the way the news media has covered this war and the deaths of our youth. The media as stopped listing the names of the soldiers killed in Iraq and people only talk about the soldiers when we reach a specific milestone in deaths. If you just started watching the news today you would not even know there is a war going on. Partisan politics have replaced coverage of our young generation who have traveled to a foreign land in the name of the United States. Whether you believe the war in Iraq is wrong, right, justified or not everyone should pay even just a little more attention to what these young men and women are sacrificing. This is what I would like to do. I want to do my part in honoring these soldiers and their memories. Along with being a college student I am also a budding artist. I draw pencil portraits of local people in my community. I want to offer a pencil portrait sketch to the immediate family of every Illinois soldier killed in Iraq. Please contact me at cameronschilling84@hotmail.com."
Cameron Schilling of Illinois

"I MISS YOU BRO!"
CPL. LAMB of PLANO, TX

"AUG 14, 2005
MARINE CPL JOHN T. OLSON -
You are an American Hero whose ultimate sacrifice will not be forgotten by a grateful nation. Rest in peace Marine. You will be remembered for always being faithful to God, Country, Family and the Corps.
AMERICA SALUTES CPL JOHN T. OLSON"
BRAD & DOROTHY BURT of Portsmouth, RI

"Corporal Olson, goodbye soldier and thank you. You are my hero."
Bill of Houston, Texas

"To the Family of Cpl. John Olson:

My friends and I have constructed a memorial to the service men and women from Wisconsin and Illinois who have died in Iraq which includes, as of 7/12/05, 112 crosses and Stars of David. We would like your permission to put John's name on one of them.
We have called our display "Arlington Midwest" and it is located in Wisconsin Dells, WI.
It is our expression of mourning for the indescribable loss you have suffered for our country.

If you would like us to do this, please email me at ArlingtonMidwest@yahoo.com.

We invite you to visit Arlington Midwest. I can send you directions and some pictures by email.

"As long as we live, they too will live;
for they are now a part of us,
as we remember them."
Marty Preston of Wisconsin Dells, WI

"HEY JOHNNY, IF YER LISTENING, WE REMEMBER YOU!!!!! AND CANNOT EVER FORGET YOU AND THE REST OF OUR BOYS THAT ARE WITH YOU RIGHT NOW. HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO YOU, THE OLSON FAMILY. KEEP YOUR SPIRITS, THATS HOW HE WILL KNOW WE STILL REMEMBER. LOVE YOU BRO!! CHEERS, THE LAMB FAMILY 5/30/05"
BRIAN LAMB of PLANO, TX *U*S*A*

"HEY JOHNNY, IF YER LISTENING, WE REMEMBER YOU!!!!! AND CANNOT EVER FORGET YOU AND THE REST OF OUR BOYS THAT ARE WITH YOU RIGHT NOW. HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO YOU, THE OLSON FAMILY. KEEP YOUR SPIRITS, THATS HOW HE WILL KNOW WE STILL REMEMBER. LOVE YOU BRO!! CHEERS, THE LAMB FAMILY"
BRIAN LAMB of PLANO, TX *U*S*A*

"THANKYOU "OLLIE" U WERE ONE OF A KIND ALL YOUR BROTHERS IN THE 4TH PLATOON MISS YOU. MY HEART GOEAS OUT TO HIS FAMILY. YOUR SON IS AHERO, VERY FEW MARINES SERVE 3 TERMS IN IRAQ, BUT YOUR SON DID. WE LOVE HIM AND MISS HIM."
LCPL. MELENDEZ of BROOKLYN, NY

"I would first like to give my regrets to the family and all of the freinds that knew cpl olson aka "ollie" john was a good friend to me and all of his friends in the corp he loved his job and loved bieng around all the guys john was a great marrine and he will always be in all the hearts of his fellow brothers that he served with. this is from me but more inportantly from all of his brothers from 4th plt in iraq right know that wanted me to say they are sorry also for the great loss that the family and friends had lost. nothing can ever replace that kind of friendship with each other.so rest in peace brother semper fi from your friends 4th plt and casler."
matthew casler cpl. of mansfeild ohio

"I'm the mother of Lcpl Daniel Hernandez a friend of John Olie Olson.I'm so sorry for the lost of these wonderful Marine as a mother I can only imagine the pain the family is going through.Olie that how his friend call him will always live in our hearts."
Mirza Hernandez of Homestead,FL.USA

"Oi Johnny,
Next to Shaun you have remained my most truest and loyal friend and brother. Words cannot express the pain & anger I feel. You were taken from us far before your time and I'm jealous of the Gods in the Great Halls of Valhalla. Your bravery and my pride for you is overwhelming. Its hard for me to believe I'm never going to hear your corny little laugh again, besides in my memories. I will never forget the parties, the inside jokes and the harassing. I will carry you with me always!
The day we got the news of your passing the entire crew got together and went to a bar, as I sat there amongst friends, tears and drinks I realized You are and have always been the glue that held us together. It was like old times. Losing you was enough and I will try my hardest from here on out to keep everyone close. I miss you Johnny! If you were here now you would probably be picking on me for all the crying but alas I cant help it. Although I'm angry for the time taken from us I'm grateful for those we shared and I will NEVER forget!!!! Forever my brother!.. I look forward to the day the Valkyrie comes for me and brings me to a seat beside you in Valhalla! I love you Johnny!."
Nichole of Des plaines, IL

"To my cousin, John, who will always be in my heart...I miss you already. Thank you for how you have blessed my life and the lives of our family. You will forever be with all of us, and I will treasure all the memories we had together. You are my hero. To all of the countless others serving our country...God be with you and protect you."
Anne Biro of Boston, MA

"thanks you for your sarifice. you will never be forgotten. and to the family i am airbrushing names of some of those that paid the ultimate price on my harley and will be honored to ad his name if will allow me that honor.MY E-MAIL IS RPHELAN30W@AOL.COM thanks"
RICK PHELAN of WARRENVILLE IL

"To the family and friends of Corporal John T. Olson,

Those we hold most dear, never truly leave us. May you find comfort in love's everlasting connection.

In the Support section of this web site you will find links to many groups that support you at this crucial time. The Marine Comfort Quilt group would be honored to send a quilt to the next of kin. There are many, loving and caring Americans from all over the United States that will never forget the sacrifice that your loved one has made for our Freedom. Please use our link and register so we can send you our "Love Stitched Together."

Proud Marine Mom and Proud Member of Marine Comfort Quilts "
Sandra Moudy of Placentia, California USA

"John will be forever missed. As a previous student of mine I can only say the kindest of words towards him. He touched my life in many ways and I will never forget what he gave to me and this country. God Bless you John, you are my hero."
Darren McKinnis of Shiprock New Mexico

"There are no words to express the sorrow we feel for your loss. May God bless you and help you through this time."
Dan and Meg Manninen of San Antonio, Texas

"Thank you John T. Olson for what you have done for our counrty. My Nephew was killed in January in Iraq several weeks ago and we know the pain that your family is going through. John T. Olson you are a hero."
Joe, of Illinois

"Thank you brave american Soldier.
Thank you for save the freedom of the whole world.
Thank you from Germany
You are my Hero
Thank you from Ute of Ramstein/Germany"

"02/24/05
Thank you John for defending the freedoms we all cherish. We are deeply appreciative of what you did for all of us. You are our hero and we will remember you each day we raise our flag in the front yard. Semper Fi Marine, God bless you and may He grant your loved ones peace until you are together again. From a very grateful American family."
The Shaw Family of Pasadena, Maryland

"To the family of Cpl. Olson, be proud of your son and things he has accomplished. He was a great kid. I served with him in our tour in An Nasiriyah in "03" in Btry "A" 1st Bn 10th mar div. He always spoke about his family, and hometown friends so fondly. Cpl.Olson was a good friend of mine and I am upset to see him go. But I know he is safe were he is right now. My family and I send our condolences, and if there is anything you ever may need, we can certainly try to help. And to John, you have my word, you will never be forgotten.....Semper Fi"
Cpl. Brian Lamb of Plano, TX USA

"We Will NEVER FORGET !"
Please KNOW so many people share your sadness, and we are remembering your family in your loss and your deep grief. Your HERO, John, will be remembered by name. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless you ALWAYS. Pat & Sandi Breckenridge from Montana "

"To the family of John T. Olson on 2/22/05. These are trying times for you and I hope you can be comforted knowing that thousands of people are praying for your beloved son and American hero. Trust and Jesus."
Webster and Ruth Reed, Parents of Jonathan Ray Reed who died in Iraq on January 28, 2005 of Krotz Springs, LA

"Thank you John Olson, you will not be forgotten. Your bravery goes beyond words. I want to express my deepest gratitude for your sacrifice. To the family and friends, my prayers and deep condolences in your loss. May God strengthen you from knowing that fellow Americans and people around the world care about you and grieve with you in your loss. God bless you all. A very appreciative fellow American,"
Leo Titus of Grayslake, Illinios

"To the family and friends of Cpl. John Olson:
May God's grace be with you during your time of grief. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and we feel your loss and share in your sorrow. Bless John for the sacrifice he has made to make a better life for the rest of us."
The Ford Family of Wells, Nevada

"To the family and friends of Cpl. John Olson:
I am saddened by the loss of your loved one. He will always be remembered as a hero for fighting for freedom. I hope that this website will be a source of comfort and encouragement for you during this difficult time, and in the future as you recall the memories of John, who continues to live on in your heart."
Tim Rivera of Powder Springs, Georgia