About Me

Matthys J. Olieman (Matt)

Primarly "About Me" is about me before I joined the army and I don't want to bore you with too much detail.

I was born on February 2, 1948, Rotterdam, Holland.

Moved to the United States November 1956 to Erie, Pennsylvania.

My Father was a Pipe Organ Builder and I loved being around him when he worked on Pipe Organs.

As a child I was well protected from the real world and in many ways was naive.  I was not a confident child or young adult.

 Durring my High School years I met my wife, Marcia.  The best thing that ever happened to me and who I can't live without.

I was aware of the Vietnam war and never thought I would ever be there.  Physicly I was thin and not very muscular, I've had health problems and thought I would never be excepted in the service.

I new very little why we were at war in Vietnam or even it's location, the only city I knew of in Vietnam was Saigon, although I didn't know it's location.  I never thought I'd have a need to know about Vietnam.

To my suprise, I was excepted in the service and got my draft notice.