PRIVATE SINN GIVEN MEDAL
Private First Class James K. Sinn, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. I. Sinn of this city, has been awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received in the Sicilian campaign, according to a letter received from the Webster City serviceman.
Private Sinn, a member of one of the first paratroop units to spearhead the invasion of Sicily, was wounded in the back in the first jump. He was returned to North Africa for medical treatment and rest but had sufficiently recovered at his last writing to be sent back to the allied held island.
The Webster Cityan enlisted in the army in March, 1942, and received his initial training at Camp Roberts, Cal. He was later transferred to Fort Benning, Ga. From there he was sent to Fort Bragg, N. C., where he specialized in paratroop work.
Private Sinn has been overseas since May and is connected with the same outfit to which Pfc. Kenneth T. Olson, also of this city, is attached. Private Olson escaped injury in the jump but contracted a case of malaria and also was sent back to Africa for a rest.
Mr. and Mrs. Sinn have another son, Private Lyle Sinn, who also participated in the Sicilian invasion. He is a member of an infantry unit and has been on the island since July.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Sept. 29, 1943
Mrs. Mae Olson of this city received a telephone call, Monday night from her son, Cpl. Kenneth T. Olson saying that he had arrived back in the U.S. after combat duty with the paratroops in the European war theater. Corporal Olson was wounded during action on the continent and had been in an overseas hospital receiving treatment.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Mar. 14, 1945
Kenneth Thomas Olson was born Feb. 12, 1918 to Frank and Mariah ‘Mae' Olson. He died Mar. 20, 2000 and is buried in the I O O F Cemetery, Rock Falls, IL.
Cpl. Olson was a rifleman with one of the first formed U.S. parachute divisions.
Sources: ancestry.com
