Gene Olson

Gene Olson was born in Seattle, WA 1945 by a Swedish father and a Norwegian mother. Bothell, WA is his hometown. He has traveled extensively in Europe, mostly Eastern Europe. He currently resides in Vancouver, WA. He loves the Columbia River. Every morning he can see Mt. St. Helen's if it's not cloudy.

I was drafted Army and released to the Navy. I served in Vietnam 1965-1967 in the Amphibious Force onboard the LST Tioga County, making beachings along the coast, cruising up Saigon River to Saigon and operations in Mekong Delta. One night in Okiawa loading up tanks for Saigon, a gay shipmate wanted sex. Thus started an investigation with ONI, Office of Naval Intelligence.

Three years back from Vietnam the Seattle VA Hospital diagnosed me as paranoid-schizophrenic. Six years later, 1976, at American Lake VA Medical Center, Tacoma, WA I was properly disgnosed as manic-depressive or now bipolar. God has given me the gift of lithium for 36 years! And what a gift it is.

I believe bipolars and Vietnam Veterans will benefit by reading my memoir.