Oliver Thomas Dixon
T/5 in 3132nd Signal Service Co : 4th Platoon
ASN#36363668
Born 1919 in KY, Died 2007
County of residence at enlistment: Bureau County, IL
Other residence(s): Magnolia, KY; Princeton, IL; Millbrook, IL
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Occupation before the war: attendants, filling stations and parking lots
Oliver Dixon was born on December 21, 1919 in Magnolia (near Hodgenville), KY, the youngest of three children. His father was a teamster, and later a WPA laborer.
By 1930, the family had relocated to Princeton, IL. Oliver's mother was working as a hotel maid, and his older sister had married and brought her husband into the household.
Oliver completed his education after the 8th grade, and went to work. On July 1, 1941, when he registered for the draft, he was working as a laborer. By August 13, 1942, when he enlisted, his employment was listed in the category of "attendants, filling stations and parking lots."
Oliver eventually found himself in the 3132 Signal Service Company, and served in Europe with the unit during the war. He was discharged with the rank of T/5, and married Veronica Taylor on July 1, 1945. They would go on to have four children: Thomas, Mark, John, and Valerie.
In 1950, Oliver was working in a cheese factory, but by 1951 he had found work at LCN in Princeton; the company made door closers for commercial and institutional customers. He worked there for 31 years, until 1982. After he retired, he worked as a security agent for Champion Pneumatic in Princeton, a division of Gardner Denver.
He was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church, Princeton VFW Post 4323, and
American Legion Post 125.
Oliver died on February 12, 2007, and is buried at Elm Lawn Memorial Park in Princeton.
Sources
1920 census
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/records?recordId=56983383&collectionId=6061&tid=7393405&pid=25345229243&ssrc=pt
1930 census
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/records?recordId=83278644&collectionId=6224&tid=7393405&pid=25345229243&ssrc=pt
1940 census
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442/records/138988641
1941 draft card
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/records?recordId=300564147&collectionId=2238&tid=7393405&pid=25345229243&ssrc=pt
1942 enlistment record
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/records?recordId=4602655&collectionId=8939&tid=7393405&pid=25345229243&ssrc=pt
1950 census
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/records?recordId=226021012&collectionId=62308&tid=&pid=&queryId=8d107ea9-ef93-430e-8a9b-289278c94459&_phsrc=ywD8&_phstart=successSource
2007 Find a Grave record
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17987816/oliver-thomas-dixon
2007 Social Security death index
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/records?recordId=79384540&collectionId=3693&tid=&pid=&queryId=260d4820-98ce-4967-ad0f-89ff452cec57&_phsrc=ywD9&_phstart=successSource