World War II Honoree

Nelson 'Tubby' Waldron

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

ENTERED THE U.S. ARMY IN JULY 1942. SERVED WITH THE 80TH INFANTRY, THE BLUE RIDGE DIVISION, WHICH ENTERED FRANCE SHORTLY AFTER D-DAY. HE WAS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS IN NOVEMBER 1944, WHEN HIS DIVISION KICKED OFF AN ATTACK TOWARD THE SAAR, A VITAL INDUSTRIAL REGION ON THE FRENCH-GERMAN BORDER. HE WAS A COMBAT HERO WHO RECEIVED THE SILVER STAR, ONE OF THE NATION'S HIGHEST AWARDS FOR VALOR, FOR BRAVING GERMAN ARTILLERY FIRE TO SAVE THE LIFE OF A COMRADE ON A FRENCH BATTLEFIELD. ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL CITATION FOR HIS AWARD, ONE OF THE UNIT'S FORWARD ARTILLERY OBSERVERS, APPARENTLY SUFFERING FROM SHELL SHOCK, BECAME DISORIENTED AND BEGAN CRAWLING TOWARD THE GERMAN LINES. WITH DISREGARD FOR PERSONAL SAFETY, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WALDRON VOLUNTARILY ADVANCED THROUGH SEVERE ARTILLERY FIRE TO CARRY THE OFFICER TO SAFETY AND TO PROTECT HIM FROM SHELL FRAGMENTS WITH HIS OWN BODY. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, AS WELL AS THE SILVER STAR. HIS HEROISM IS COMMEMORATED IN THE HALL OF VALOR AT SOLDIERS AND SAILORS NATIONAL MILITARY MUSEUM AND MEMORIAL IN OAKLAND.