Robert Olzweski

Robert Olzweski entered the military in April 1967 and was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 64th Armored Infantry Division in Germany.

In 1968, he was reassigned to the 5th Cavalry, 9th Infantry Division and deployed to Vietnam, spending a year in-country. While deployed to Vietnam, Olzweski held a variety of key roles, including serving as a Squad Leader for the final six months.

On March 7, 1969, Olzweski’s unit started receiving incoming mortar rounds. The unit located the enemy in the mountains and engaged in a firefight. The M-90 tank Olzweski was traveling in was hit by an APG round, wounding Olzweski and killing another solider. After initially refusing medical treatment, Olzweski was eventually airlifted out and received medical aid before returning to combat duty.

Along with his Purple Heart, CW4 Olzweski was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with “V” for heroism. In December 2002, CW4 Olzweski, now a member of the Army Reserve’s 945th Engineering Detachment, and his unit were put on “alert status” and his unit received mobilization orders as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2008, Olzweski retired from the U.S. Army.

Along with his military service, Robert Olzweski worked for 39 years as a Senior Transportation Project Manager for the North Dakota Department of Transportation. Olzweski is a Life Member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled Veterans of America (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), American Legion, American Veterans (AMVETS) and the Bismarck Elks. He is an Honor Guard member for DAV and AMVETS.

Olzweski was nominated to take part in the 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project Mission by Military Order of the Purple Heart Region 3 Commander Ken Teunissen.