WHEELING — Several family members gathered with city officials, veterans and students of Ritchie Elementary School on Friday morning to honor Lance Cpl. Charles Robert “Robbie” Olson, who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1970.

The Wheeling Military Banner Program offered a salute to Olson, who lost his life at the age of 19 while serving his country.

Olson, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, was an anti-tank assaultman serving with Combined Action Company Program 3-3-5 just four months into his tour when he was killed on Jan. 3, 1970. Written accounts state that he was conducting a search in the Thua Thien Province in South Vietnam when two M26 grenade booby traps rigged with trip wires simultaneously detonated on his patrol. Olson was fatally wounded in the blast, and two others were

See Full Page