Second Generation

2. Julius Melcher OJERHOLM-306 (Sten Eric Alfred ) was born 1, 2 on 14 Jun 1885 in Milbury, Worcester, Ma. He died 2 in 1948 in Milbury, Worcester, Ma.

Julius worked 3 as Bookkeeper in 1930 in Worcester, Ma.

Notes Provided by Family Tree of David Stone Ojerholm

Julius took over as choirmaster at the First Swedish Methodist Church from his father, Sten and held this position for 25 years. He then gave up this task to his cousin, Walter Ojerholm.

Julius married 1 (MRIN:84) Emma W. HULT-326 after Apr 1910. Emma was born 2, 3 in 1885 in Worcester, Massachusetts. She died 4 in 1976.

Emma worked 3 as Milliner in 1910 in Worcester, Ma.

Marriage Notes:  Marriage was after 18 April 1910 US Census when Emma was shown as still single and living with her parents.

Julius and Emma had the following children.

  9 M i
Malcom OJERHOLM-327 was born 1 in 1912 in Milbury, Worcester, Ma. He died 1 in 1912 in Milbury, Worcester, Ma.
  10 F ii
Olive OJERHOLM-328 was born 1 on 8 Nov 1913 in Milbury, Worcester, Ma. She died 2 in 1915 in Milbury, Worcester, Ma.

+ 11 M iii Wilbur Luther OJERHOLM-329 was born on 1 Jun 1916. He died on 2 Aug 2003.
+ 12 M iv Paul Sten OJERHOLM-330 was born on 26 Oct 1921. He died on 28 Oct 2002.
  13 M v

Richard Carl OJERHOLM-331 was born 1, 2 in 1926 in Milbury, Worcester, Ma. He died 2, 3 on 31 Jul 2008 in Auburn, MA. He was buried 3 on 5 Aug 2008 in Hillside Cemetery, Auburn, MA.

Notes for Richard Carl Ojerholm provided by David Stone Ojerholm


Richard served in the US Marines during WWII. The following was written by him in February, 2001:
"After leaving California on a troopship (3000 Marines) we eventually landed on the island of Guam after the island was claimed by the American forces. I was assigned to the Third Marine Division and our immediate responsibilities were to flush out those Japs who took refuge in the hills and jungles. At Iwo Jima we waited for our turn to go down the sides of the ship and enter. That opportunity never came and I often wonder how close I may have come to crossing paths with Eric. The atom bomb saved us from having to storm the islands of Japan for which we are now being trained in street warfare versus jungle fighting. My next assignment was in a motor transport division in China where the Japanese prisoners of war were under our control. When I finally received orders to board a ship headed for HOME wouldn't you know it was on a small landing craft- the bow of which dropped down to unload their cargo - trucks - tanks people. The trip back took 44 days on the roughest ocean trip I experienced. "

       
Richard married (MRIN:93) Ruth F. RUKSNAITIS-341, daughter of Frank RUKSNAITIS-342 and Anna UNKNOWN-343 (MRIN:95). Ruth was born 1, 2 in Jun 1929.



+ 14 M vi Allan Homer OJERHOLM-332 was born in Nov 1928.

6. Oscar Sten OJERHOLM -310 (Sten Eric Alfred ) was born 1, 2, 3, 4 on 1 Dec 1893 in Milbury, Worcester, Ma. He died 2, 5, 6 in Mar 1969 in West Millbury, Worcester, MA 01586.

Oscar worked 7 as Roller, American Steel & Wire Co. in 1917 in Worcester, Ma.

 

Oscar married (MRIN:88) Florence Sophia JACOBSON-351. Florence was born 1 on 10 Jun 1889. She died 1, 2 on 9 Jul 1978.

 

They had the following children.

  15 F i
Betty Ann OJERHOLM-352 was born 1 in 1926.

7. Eric Waldemar OJERHOLM-311 (Sten Eric Alfred ) was born 1, 2 in 1895 in Milbury, Worcester, Ma. He died 3 on 23 Apr 1956 in Newton Center Masschusetts from Heart Attack. He was buried 3 on 27 Apr 1956 in Boston, MA.

Notes for ERIC WALDEMAR OJERHOLM:  Provided by David Stone Ojerholm


As a youth, Eric was a local Quinsigamond baseball hero with the nickname: "Jigger". He moved on to play semi-pro baseball for Springfield as a catcher. He was drafted to play for the St. Louis Browns professional baseball team but he chose to enlist in the US Marines in 1917, just prior to the USA's entry into WW I. As a Sergeant in the famed 6th Marines, Eric served in Europe and distinguished himself in the battles of Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood. Eric won a battlefield commission at Belleau Wood. After the war, Eric served as a Lieutenant of Marines in Boston, Haiti and Washington, D.C. where he became White House Aide under US Presidents, Harding and Coolidge. Eric became ill with suspected TB and was hospitalised and eventually discharged from the Marines in May, 1929 with a full disability pension. During peacetime, Eric was employed in Boston by the Shell Oil Company and Filene's Department Store resp. Eric was called back into the Marines at the commencement of WW II where he served as Executive Officer of the Marine Detachment at the Boston Navy Yard. Because of his medical history, Eric was prevented from holding any combat roles. Eric retired at the end of WW II with a permanent rank of Major with a full disability pension having suffered high blood pressure and a related a heart condition at the end of his military service.


                                                                                                                      Following is the text from a newspaper article in Worcester, Ma. about 1919.
"Lieut. Ojerholm Back from France: Quinsigamond War Hero Reaches New York.  Another one of Quinsigamond's popular war heroes has arrived in the U.S. from France. He is First Lieut. Eric W. Ojerholm, son of Mr. & Mrs. Oscar S. Ojerholm, 15 Falmouth Street. There may be some mistake in the name, and Quinsigamond folks will be wondering who this First Lieut. Ojerholm can be, but he is "Jigger" Ojerholm. "Jigger" is the Quinsigamond Marine hero who arrived in New York yesterday on the steamship "Washington". A telegram received by his parents states that he will be obliged to parade in New York Friday, and then he has hopes of getting home if only on a short furlough.
Lieut. Ojerholm enlisted with the United States Marines, June 1917, and January, 1918, he was sent across with the 6th Regiment, 2nd Division.
"Jigger" Ojerholm is one of the most popular young men in Quinsigamond village according to the many business associates of his in that district. He will be remembered as a baseball hero, and it is probable he came into his own when twirling some grenades at the Heinies. He is represented on the honor roll of the Quinsigamond Swedish Methodist Church, Rev. Andrew J. Lofgren, Pastor. Lieut. Ojerholm is one of the Swedish-speaking boys to receive a commission through untiring efforts. He started at the bottom of the ladder and went to corporal, then to sergeant and finally won his silver bar. He is the only Scandinavian boy in Worcester to receive a commission as First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and a royal welcome will be given him by Worcester and his Quinsigamond pals."

                                                                                                                            Following is a letter written by Eric to his new bride, Ruth.

" Quantico, Va. July 16, 1923.
Dearest Sweetheart,
Have been thinking about you all day, also on my way down here, and been hoping you are in good spirits.  No question about it, we both are lonesome, however, we will be together in the near future - earnestly hope so -
It was terribly hot on my arrival in Washington, and it sure was uncomfortable with my grey suit on - went to church as per verbal instructions after which I caught the train for Quantico.
Got a room down at the house of horrors and managed to survive the night, as it was fearfully hot.  Wore my civilian clothes all morning as I could not get my trunk down until noon - lack of transportation caused that -
Before going up to the office this afternoon stopped off at the paymaster to get my check but it wasn't made out and furthermore the paymaster was in Washington on business. Aren't I lucky -
Will get it the first thing in the morning however, and my first objective is to pay the Post Exchange Officer. Had a chat with him and we talked quite ticklish - He said he thought I was trying to put something over on him -
Well dearest the bank hasn't paid anything as yet, and I couldn't get any dope as it was closed -
Well you sweet bunch of sugar, felt lonesome in bed last night - how about you?
Well little girl will run along home and straighten out my room a bit, also prepare my laundry for cleaning.
Love you loads,
Yours always & forever,
Eric
x x x x x x x x x - each one a million - do you like this idea?"

                                                                                                                                                     Notations David Stone Ojerholm
1. Quantico is the US Marine base about 1 hrs. drive south of Washington D.C.
2. The reference to attending church on instructions is interesting. Eric converted to Catholicism in order to marry Ruth.  His family in Worcester were devout Methodists. His mother sang solo in the church choir and his father was the choir director & organist for some 28 years. Nonetheless, Eric wasn't a very religious person and often missed Sunday mass much to the concern of his children who were all brought up as strict Catholics!



 

Eric married (MRIN:89) Ruth Victoria AHERN-313 in Boston, MA. Ruth was born in 1898 in Boston, MA. She died in 1988 in Wellesley, Ma.

Notes for RUTH VICTORIA AHERN:  Provided by David Stone Ojerholm
Ruth served as a US Navy Yeoman at the Boston Navy Yard during WW I. She was a secretary to the Catholic Chaplain.  It was at the Boston Navy Yard where she met and married Eric following the war.
As a very young child, Ruth boarded at Mount St. Joseph's Academy in Brighton.  Her elder sister, Helen also did the same.  Their bother, David boarded at Assumption College in Wellesley. All this proved necessary following the separation of their parents

 

Eric and Ruth had the following children.

  16 M i
Eric Waldemar OJERHOLM Jr.-314 was born 1, 2 on 4 Apr 1924 in Washington, DC. He died 1, 3, 4 on 7 Mar 1945 in Iwo Jima. He was buried 1 on 1 Feb 1949 in Punchbowl, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Oahu, HI.

Notes provided by David Stone Ojerholm, Eric's younger brother

Eric W. Jnr. ("Sonny") graduated from B.C. High School around the time of the outbreak of WW II. He attended Boston College and then participated in the US Marine Corps Officer Training Programme at Dartmouth College. Like many youth at the time, Eric was itching to get into the war before it ended and he "engineered" himself into the 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division as an enlistee. This was one of the units to storm Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands in the Western Pacific. This was reputed to be one of the bloodiest battles in US Marine Corps history during which the marines suffered more casualties than the defending Japanese during a fierce frontal assault lasting almost one month. Some 7000 marines perished in battle including Eric who died on D-Day plus 16, March 7th, 1945. Eric now lies in peace along with thousands of his compatriots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, The Punchbowl, Honolulu, Hawaii, one of the most beautiful vantage points on the island of Oahu.

The following article appeared in the Boston Globe shortly after the family received notification of Sonny's death in April 1945. The article contains Sonny's penultimate letter home:

"Letter Reveals Courage of Marine on Eve of Death

This is the story of a United States marine who died on Iwo Jima in the bloodiest battle ever fought by a corps famed for its courage and tenacity. But it is only partly that. For it is also the story of a letter, the last that will ever be written by Pfc Eric Ojerholm, USMC, to his family back home in Newton Centre. Few letters that have come to the Globe's attention have breathed of loyalty , of courage, of honesty, of love, and faith more beautifully.

Pfc Eric Ojerholm of the Marines is the oldest son of Major Eric W. Ojerholm (Ret), who, during the past two years has been stationed at the Boston Navy Yard following recall to service. Maj. Ojerholm has just received notification from the Navy of his son's death in action. The notice followed soon after receipt of Eric's final letter.

Pfc Ojerholm is a graduate of B.C. High and Boston College. He entered Dartmouth for special training in July ,1943, and went overseas in the Pacific in September, 1944. Besides his father and mother, he leaves two brothers and three sisters. Their home is at 40 Rowena Rd., in Newton Center.

Here is the letter:

'Feb., 9, 1945
"En Route"

Dear Folks,

Hope my letters have been coming through halfway regularly so you wouldn't worry. Mother, Daddy, Barbara, Joan, Michael, David and last but not least Ruthie, I hope you're all well and happy.

Myself, at present, I'm aboard ship bound for combat and as fine as I could be under the circumstances. Needless to say, I miss you all very much and hope the day when I will see you all again isn't far distant.

I have never tried to write a letter like this before and I don't know quite how to begin. Soon, in the very near future we will attack Japanese occupied and strongly fortified territory - that is obvious. That some of us won't be coming back is also quite obvious. It is going to be hot and heavy. I hope and pray - God willing - I'll be spared.

I'm in the state of grace, and that fact alone gives me great consolation. I'm not going to try to tell you all that I'll not be scared. I'll be scared stiff. I just hope I can give a good account of myself. In spite of my resignation to God's will, being in a state of grace, and a sort of fatalism, I don't want to die. I suppose that's just natural. But if the worst should occur, I really hope you'll not take it too hard - just pray for me. The only difficult thing for me will be missing you all because I love you all very much.  Tonight, as I write this, you are all many thousands of miles away, but there are bonds and ties that time and space cannot diminish.

By the time you get this letter you probably would have read of the strike of our outfit, so this will be old news, but this is the last chance I'll have to write for a long time. I can't think of much else to say except that the weather is fine and the chow exceptionally good. Guess that's about all for now. Write soon.

Love to all,

Sonny' "

Sonny's very last letter was written during a brief respite from the front lines a few days before his death. I don't have a copy of this brief letter but I do remember some of the main points Sonny mentioned:

That he considered himself lucky to be alive and safe,

That Iwo Jima was absolute hell, that his unit had been on the front too long and he hoped that they wouldn't have to go up again,

That he dug and prayed plenty of the time,

That none of his close buddies had been killed, though some were wounded,

That he had seen many Japanese dead and marines as well, and that it was all such a shame,

That he had only one decent souvenir, a Jap rifle and that he hadn't the time or the stomach for anything else.

This letter which I believe was called a "V-Mail" was received much later. What we actually received was a photocopy of the original as all such letters had to be censored before despatch.
  17 F ii
Barbara Ahern OJERHOLM-315 was born in 1925 in Haiti.

Barbara worked as Nurse.

Notes for BARBARA AHERN OJERHOLM:
Barbara is a graduate of Sacred Heart High School and the Boston Carney Hospital School of Nursing.
  18 F iii
Joanne Elizabeth OJERHOLM-316 was born in 1927 in Marine Barracks, Boston Navy Yard, MA.
  19 M iv
Michael Francis OJERHOLM-317 was born in 1930 in Brighton, MA.
  20 M v
David Stone Ojerholm-318 was born in 1937 in Newton Center Masschusetts.
  21 F vi
Ruth Christina OJERHOLM-319 was born in 1938 in Newton Center Masschusetts.

Home First Previous Next Last

Surname List | Name Index