World War II Honoree

Lester Alton Nelson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Sallisaw, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN SEPTEMBER, 1943 IN SALLISAW, OKLAHOMA. TRAINED IN VIRGINIA AND CALIFORNIA IN THE AMERICAN THEATER BEFORE SHIPPING OVERSEAS TO THE TERRITORY OF HAWAII. SERVED AS A 'SEABEE' OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA WITH THE 39TH NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION. JOINED HIS BATTALION AT NAVAL AIR STATION KAHULUI ON MAUI. HIS BATTALION EMBARKED AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1944 AND ARRIVED ON THE ISLAND OF SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1944. THERE, HE WAS ENGAGED IN THE BUILDING OF THE NAVAL AIR STATION AT TANAPAG. HIS BATTALION WAS INACTIVATED ON SAIPAN ON SEPTEMBER 28, 1945 AFTER THE END OF THE WAR. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN DECEMBER, 1945 AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.