World War II Honoree

Robert Herman Nelson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Honored By

Stephen Nelson

Relationship

Son

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON MAY 19, 1944. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON MAY 22, 1946. HIGHEST RANK OR RATING HELD AVIATION ORDINANCE MAN THIRD CLASS. SERVICES (VESSELS AND STATIONS SERVED ON): USNTS GREAT LAKES ILLINOIS, NTTC (AOM) NORMAN OK, CASU 7, USS BUNKER HILL (CV 17), CASU 66, NAS SAN DIEGO CA. ON MAY 11, 1945, ROBERT WAS ON THE USS BUNKER HILL OFF THE COAST OF OKINAWA WHEN THE CARRIER WAS HIT AND SEVERELY DAMAGED BY TWO JAPANESE SUICIDE PLANES. HE SURVIVED THE ATTACK, BUT 346 MEN LOST THEIR LIVES, 43 WERE COUNTED MISSING AND 264 WERE WOUNDED.