I wanted to thank Don Terry for his excellent article on Medal of Honor recipient Milton Olive [“Milton’s Gift,” May 12]. When I was a cadet at West Point in the 1970-74 time frame, we had heard of Milton’s sacrifice–it had become Army lore by that time. Our professors often cited Milton as the classic example of a soldier giving his life to save others. Your article brought it home again how much such an act will change people’s lives forever. You’ve given due honor to the man who saved his platoon members and you’ve done well to honor those who will never forget Olive’s sacrifice for them. Such is the stuff of American history and our proud military heritage. More articles like that are always welcome on a Sunday afternoon.
Samuel W. (Bill) France / Wheaton
A hero and a victim
Your breathtaking article is right: Milton Olive was a hero. But he was a victim, too. He wouldn’t have had to throw himself on a grenade if our government hadn’t sent him to Vietnam.
Sheri Reda / Chicago
A father’s pride
Milton Olive’s dad worked with me in 1981. We were security guards at the Art Institute of Chicago. Mr. Olive let you know within 30 seconds of your first meeting that his kid was Milton Olive the war hero. And this being 1981, folks would often shrug and say they were sorry, but they’d never heard of Milton Olive. And the old man would walk off sagging at the shoulders, because, after all, this was years before it became fashionable to hug a Vietnam vet or console surviving relatives of war heroes from the one dust-up everyone wanted to forget–but couldn’t.
I remember Mr. Olive speaking with pride about his lectures to schoolchildren and church and community groups, where he’d lug along his 16 mm projector and play old network news footage about his son’s heroism. At the time I thought he was living off his son’s glory. But at 24 you think you know everything.
Twenty years later, I’m the father of an only child. Reading Don Terry’s piece, I learned that Milton Olive III was an only child. So maybe I understand better now. His son was his entire world, his reason for getting out of bed in the morning. He didn’t have his boy anymore by 1981, but he had the memories and he’d make certain young Milton wasn’t forgotten. And if I were in his shoes and it was my son who’d jumped on the grenade, I would have done the same.
I don’t think Mr. Olive would have been pleased with Terry’s story–I know it.
Jim Mueller / Glen Ellyn
Never forget
I am not the “anti-war type,” because some battles need to be fought. But your story put a face on one of the thousands who died, sacrificing their lives for this country in an ambivalent war. This story demonstrated that there aren’t any “Hollywood” type endings in reality. Some of the survivors still struggle and suffer with the sacrifice their comrade made. The agony of that poor father and stepmother of losing their son is very painful to contemplate. What a hole it must have torn in their hearts. Multiply this by thousands of families and it clearly counterbalances the “glories” painted about battle.
Mr. Terry, you did a service presenting this story. We citizens must not ever forget the sacrifices of our youth and their families.
Stan Roelker / Vernon Hills
Another hero
I agree with Don Terry’s teacher when she said the country should never forget its heroes. It was truly a brave, heroic act that cost Milton Olive his life. We should not forget that there are other Medal of Honor winners in this great city. I think about Carmel B. Harvey, a classmate of mine (George Washington High School, Class of 1965) and another South Sider who also posthumously received this award. His citation reads, in part:
Sp4c. Harvey distinguished himself as a fire team leader with Company B, during combat operations. Ordered to secure a downed helicopter, his platoon established a defensive perimeter around the aircraft, but shortly thereafter a large enemy force attacked the position from 3 sides.
Sp4c. Harvey and 2 members of his squad were in a position directly in the path of the enemy onslaught, and their location received the brunt of the fire from an enemy machinegun. In short order, both of his companions were wounded, but Sp4c. Harvey covered this loss by increasing his deliberate rifle fire at the foe. The enemy machinegun seemed to concentrate on him and the bullets struck the ground all around his position. One round hit and armed a grenade attached to his belt. Quickly, he tried to remove the grenade but was unsuccessful. Realizing the danger to his comrades if he remained and despite the hail of enemy fire, he jumped to his feet, shouted a challenge at the enemy, and raced toward the deadly machinegun. He nearly reached the enemy position when the grenade on his belt exploded, mortally wounding Sp4c. Harvey, and stunning the enemy machinegun crew.
His final act caused a pause in the enemy fire, and the wounded men were moved from the danger area. Sp4c. Harvey’s dedication to duty, high sense of responsibility, and heroic actions inspired the others in his platoon to decisively beat back the enemy attack. His acts are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
Fortunately, the City Colleges of Chicago recognized the sacrifice both of these young men made when they named Olive-Harvey College in their honor.
Rose Marie Pilipowski / Darien
Now they know
What a wonderful story! I’ve been enlightened and now know who this Olive person was and is. I’ve been at Olive Park and to Olive-Harvey College (for various meetings) and never once knew the hero these locations were named after. The stories of the other men in his platoon were just as compelling. I am sending the article to my friends and family–this is a story that needs to be told.
Beatrice Brown / Schaumburg
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