Olson, R. C.

LCDR R. C. OLSON Executive Officer 5 June 1952

“The next month (October 1952) we spent a couple of days in Pearl Harbor en route to FRANK E. EVANS’ new home port of Long Beach. I stood the evening watch (20-2400.) About 2330 the XO, LCDR Olson, came out to talk with me. A HASP (Hawaiian Armed Services Police) jeep pulled up to the edge of the dock about 12 feet higher than FRANK E. EVANS’ main deck. An Army sergeant, wearing the familiar blue and white MP brassard, pulled a white clad FRANK E. EVANS crewman from the back of the jeep, pushed him by the back of his white jumper down the gangway, and then flung him down onto the main deck in a heap. Mr. Olson stepped on to the bottom of the gangway and beckoned the MP to come closer to him. At that moment, the XO delivered the most beautiful right hook to the jaw that I have ever seen! The MP went over backwards up the gangway. The XO pointed a clenched fist with an extended forefinger at him and said, “Don’t’ you ever touch one of my men again!” The XO was so furious that I almost expected him to have a stroke. The MP dazedly got to his feet, sharply saluted, did a 180 turn, returned to his jeep and drove away. I always worried that there might be some repercussions from this blow, as the HASP had a ferocious reputation. Remember Ernest Borgnine’s character as a HASP brig sergeant in From Here To Eternity ! This incident was so out of character that it stunned all of us momentarily.”

– LTJG Doug Lee