World War II Honoree

Ernest E. Nelson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tennessee

Honored By

Harvey S. Sutherland

SUICIDE MISSION, PRISONER OF WAR. ON 19 SEPTEMBER 1943 PARACHUTED ONTO THE MOUNTAINS NEAR AVELINO, ITALY IN SUPPORT OF THE SALERNO BEACHHEAD TO DISRUPT THE ADVANCING GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS, CAUSE HAVOC, HARASSMENT AND TO SLOW THEIR ATTACKS ONTO THE BEACHHEAD. THE U.S. 5TH ARMY WAS IN PERIL AND ON THE VERGE OF RETREATING FROM THE ITALIAN PENINSULA. THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION PARACHUTED ONTO THE BEACHHEAD. SERVED WITH THE ELITE 509TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY BATTALION, THE MOST DECORATED PARATROOP UNIT OF WWII IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS.