World War II Honoree

William E. Nelson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Washington, North Carolina

Honored By

Washington High School Alumni

U.S. NAVY SERVICE FROM AUGUST 1943 TO APRIL 1946 SERVED AS SEAMAN FIRST CLASS, STRIKING FOR SONARMAN THIRD CLASS. WAS AN ORIGINAL CREW MEMBER OF USS LYMAN DE-302 AND SERVED ABOARD FROM COMMISSIONING AT MARE ISLAND NAVAL SHIPYARD IN FEBRUARY 1944 TO THE JAPANESE SURRENDER IN TOKYO BAY IN SEPTEMBER 1945. SEAMAN NELSON PARTICIPATED IN THE PACIFIC CAMPAIGNS AT PALAU, LUZON, IWO JIMA, OKINAWA AND THE JAPANESE HOMELAND. HE WAS AWARDED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND MEDALS AWARDED BY THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT. HIS SHIP, USS LYMAN, RECEIVED FIVE BATTLE STARS AND A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND WITNESSED THE JAPANESE SURRENDER IN TOKYO BAY.