S/Sgt. Orville Thomas Nelson
Born: 20 August 1920 – Cicero, Illinois
Parents: Thomas Nelson & Bessie Pender-Nelson
Siblings: 1 sister, 1 brother
Married: Gertrude Nelson
Hometown:
– Forest Park, Illinois
Education:
– Proviso Township High School
– Class of 1933
– left after junior year
Employment: Pheoll Manufacturing Company – Chicago, Illinois
Selective Service Registration: 16 October 1940
Contact Person: Thomas Nelson – father
Enlisted:
– Illinois National Guard
– U.S. Army
– 5 March 1941
Serial Number: 20607110
Training:
– Camp Forrest, Tennessee
– Sault Ste Marie, Michigan
– soldiers guarded locks between Lake Superior and Lake Huron
– Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi
– Fort Benning, Georgia
Unit:
– 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division
Engagements:
– Battle of Guam
– Battle of Leyte, Philippine Islands
– landed east coast of Leyte and trained- 23 November 1944
– landed east coast Ormoc Bay – 6 December 1944
– fought way to Ormoc Bay
– the regiment secured barrio of Valencia and Libungao-Palompon Road Junction – 10 December 1944
Killed in Action:
– 15 December 1944
– His wife learned of his death during the third week of January 1945
Buried:
– American Military Cemetery – Manila, Philippine Islands
-Plot: B Row: 14 Grave: 117
Medals:
– Purple Heart
– Bronze Star
