World War II Honoree

Nathaniel Cushing Nash, IV

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

He enlisted in the U.S. Army and after basic training he landed on the beaches of Normandy shortly after D-Day as a battlefield replacement. He was quickly assigned to the 197th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion where he served until the war was over. During that time, he participated in the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He was one of the first American soldiers to enter a liberated Paris with the task of placing anti-aircraft guns in position at the airport in the event of a surprise return of enemy aircraft. He was also in one of the first group of American soldiers to enter the concentration camp in Buchenwald, Germany and provide aid to the abandoned prisoners. After the war, he remained in Germany for several months serving in the U.S. Army of Occupation and was discharged as a 1st Lieutenant.