Ludwig Andreas Olsen

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Ludwig Andreas Olsen
1845 - February 20, 1886
Nickname Louis Williams
Place of birth Oslo, Norway
Allegiance U.S. Navy
Rank Captain of the Hold
Unit USS Lackawanna
Awards Medal of Honor (2)

Ludwig Andreas Olsen (1845 - 20 February 1886), also known as Louis Williams, was a United States Navy sailor and one of only 19 people to ever be awarded two Medals of Honor.

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[edit] Biography

Olsen was born in Oslo, Norway in 1845. He joined the Navy in California under the name Louis Williams. He eventually achieved the rank of Captain of the Hold, an enlisted position that placed him in charge of keeping order in the ship's hold.

On 16 March 1883, aboard the USS Lackawanna off Honolulu, Hawaii, Olsen jumped overboard and saved a fellow sailor from drowning. The next year, on 13 Jun 1884 off the coast of Callao, Peru, Olsen again saved a man from drowning. For each of these peace-time actions he was awarded a Medal of Honor. Both medals were presented to him on 18 October 1884, making Olsen one of only 19 people to receive two Medals of Honor and one of only 14 people to receive two Medals of Honor for two separate acts of heroism. Both medals were awarded under the name he had enlisted with, Louis Williams.

Olsen died on 20 February 1886 and was buried in Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York City, New York.

[edit] Medal of Honor citations

First Citation:

For jumping overboard from the U.S.S Lackawanna, 16 March 1883, at Honolulu, T.H. [Territory of Hawaii], and rescuing from drowning Thomas Moran, landsman.

Second Citation:

Serving on board the U.S.S. Lackawanna, Williams rescued from drowning William Cruise, who had fallen overboard at Callao Peru, 13 June 1884.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

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