John A. Nelson
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
John A. Nelson served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from January 21, 1943, until November 3, 1945.
He was assigned to the 104th Infantry of the Army Air Forces in England. Mr. Nelson received basic training in Florida then attended Radio Mechanic School at Camp Crowder, Missouri. He trained for 36 weeks at the University of Delaware in the Army Specialized Training Program. He was assigned to the 104th (“Timber Wolf”) Infantry Division at Camp Carson, Colorado, where he received intensive combat training.
Three months after D-Day, Mr. Nelson landed in France. He saw combat in Belgium and the Netherlands. He was hit in the chest with a bullet (that pierced a Gideon New Testament Bible in his pocket) and shortly after was struck with a mortar shell in his leg. He was sent to the hospital in France and England, then returned to duty at a B-24 base in England doing radio maintenance work. He returned to the United States on the Queen Mary at war’s end. His rank was Corporal.
Mr. Nelson was decorated with the Purple Heart.
Mr. Nelson was born on November 1, 192_, in Duluth, Minnesota, the son of Alfred and Carrie Nelson. He graduated from Duluth Denfeld High School
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall Veteran History Form; veteran account (see below)
After basic training in Florida with the Army Air Force, went to Radio Mechanic School at Camp Crowder, Missouri. Then it was off to the University of Delaware in the ASTP Program (Army Specialized Training Program) for 36 weeks. Then it was off to the 104th Timber Wolf Infantry Division at Camp Carson, Colorado, where we received intensive combat training. It was three months after D-Day that we landed in France and went into combat in Belgium and Holland. It was in Holland that I was wounded, first with a bullet through my chest and then a few minutes later a mortar shell fragment into my leg. That bullet went through a Gideon New Testament Bible I had in my chest pocket. I honestly believe it deflected the bullet from my heart. After a long time in the hospital in France and England and rehab, I was back in the Army Air Force stationed at a B-24 Base in England doing radio maintenance work. The war was soon over and we came home on the Queen Mary.
