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Timothy R. Olsen - Class of 1995
Submitted by Elizabeth Chavez <launicalisa@yahoo.com> on 06/May/2018 97.103.10.94
Timothy R Olsen, Jr
- NFA Class of 1995 - John was born July 15, 1977 in Newburgh NY. The son of
Renee T. Avon. He served his country as a CPL in the US Marines. John died in Okinawa
Japan on January 27, 2001 at the age of 23 He received the Good Conduct Medal
and Expert Rifle Medal. Buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery & Mausoleum in
Newburgh NY
Family seeks answers in Marine's death
TOWN OF NEWBURGH: Marines say he was killed in an
accident in Okinawa.
By Wayne A. Hall - The Times Herald-Record - whall@th-record.com
Renee Avon draws her last few days with her hands, pulling questions out of the
air rapidly while trying to make sense of what happened last Saturday. Her
23-year-old son, Marine Cpl. Timothy Olsen Jr., was swept from a cliff in
Okinawa by strong waves. He'd been rock-climbing on his day off. What was known
in the gray house on Delaware Road where the Christmas lights still drape the
front door was not much just after a pair of Marine officers showed up Saturday
to deliver the news. Avon takes some of the blame for not pressing for
information. "I just went blank when they said something had happened and I
closed the door and didn't ask them anything more," she said. She was numb. When
it sank in later that her son, Tim, a tough guy who lifted weights, patrolled
Newburgh Mall as a security guard and drove trucks after graduating from
Newburgh Free Academy, could be dead, she and husband, Lou, went on a mad
scramble to get the facts. They sent e-mails to their son's mates in Okinawa.
They called their congressman, Maurice D. Hinchey Jr., D- Saugerties. Yesterday,
Marine officers came again and gave her an update. They left behind a
certificate that tells some of the story, which is still being investigated. Her
son is "deceased" in a non hostile action. He fell from a cliff with a
lighthouse called Cape Zampa. There was a 72-hour search. Those are just some of
the facts that will be followed by an investigation report Feb. 6. "They were
nice; they said call them any time," Avon said. It wasn't until earlier
yesterday that her husband finally contacted a Marine buddy of Tim's who saw the
accident. He said his pal was swept off the rocks. "His friend said he could see
him in the water," Avon said. "I just hope he was knocked unconscious and didn't
suffer." Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Steve Butler said "efforts to recover the
Marine are ongoing" in the Cape area. "He came home for Christmas and New Year's
and we had such a wonderful time. I'm so glad we had that," Avon said. All
around her were proud pictures of her '70s-music-loving son, wearing Marine
dress blues.
BIRTH-15 Jul 1977 Newburgh, Orange County, New York, USA DEATH 27 Jan 2001 (aged 23) BURIAL Cedar Hill Cemetery and Mausoleum Newburgh, Orange County, New York, USA MEMORIAL id 5196400
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