World War II Honoree

William L. Nelson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Dover, Delaware

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. SERGEANT U.S. ARMY, 60TH INFANTRY, 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION. PLACE AND DATE: AT DJEBEL DARDYS, NORTHWEST OF SEDJENANE, TUNISIA APRIL 24, 1943. ENTERED SERVICE DECEMBER 17, 1943. CITATION: 'FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY AT RISK OF LIFE, ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY IN ACTION INVOLVING ACTUAL CONFLICT. ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 24, 1943 HE LED HIS SECTION OF HEAVY MORTARS TO A FORWARD POSITION WHERE HE PLACED HIS GUNS AND MEN. UNDER INTENSE ENEMY ARTILLERY, MORTAR AND SMALL-ARMS FIRE, HE ADVANCED ALONE TO A CHOSEN OBSERVATION POSITION FROM WHICH HE DIRECTED THE LAYING OF A CONCENTRATED MORTAR BARRAGE WHICH SUCCESSFULLY HALTED AN INITIAL ENEMY COUNTERATTACK. ALTHOUGH MORTALLY WOUNDED IN THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF HIS MISSION AND WITH HIS DUTY CLEARLY COMPLETED HE CRAWLED TO A STILL MORE ADVANCED OBSERVATION POINT AND CONTINUED TO DIRECT THE FIRE OF HIS SECTION. DYING OF HAND GRENADE WOUNDS AND ONLY 50 YARDS FROM THE ENEMY, HE ENCOURAGED HIS SECTION TO CONTINUE THEIR FIRE AND BY DOING SO THEY TOOK A HEAVY TOLL OF ENEMY LIVES.