World War II Honoree

Calvin G. Nelson, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Sioux City, Iowa

Honored By

Candy Foster

Relationship

Step Daughter

INDUCTED INTO THE SERVICE IN FEBRUARY, 1943, CAMP DODGE, IOWA. BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP HOOD, TEXAS AND DESERT TRAINING IN CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA WITH THE 36TH CAVALRY RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON MECHANIZED. TRAINED ALSO AT FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, CAMP GORDON, GEORGIA AND JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA BEFORE GETTING ORDERS TO EUROPE. DEPARTED THE STATES IN LATE SEPTEMBER, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN GRENOCK, SCOTLAND THIRTEEN DAYS LATER. DREW COMBAT SUPPLIES IN ENGLAND AND LEFT THE PORT OF SOUTH HAMPTON AND CROSSED THE ENGLISH CHANNEL TO LE HAVRE, FRANCE. ENTERED COMBAT AT THE ROER RIVER IN GERMANY. ATTACHED TO THE AMERICAN 9TH ARMY AND THE BRITISH 2ND ARMY FOR RECONNAISSANCE PURPOSES. SPENT 180 DAYS IN COMBAT AND WAS ISSUED 3 BATTLE STARS. DISCHARGED AS A SERGEANT ON MARCH 18, 1946 AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.