PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Kankakee, IL
Date of birth: Sunday, 01/30/1944
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Methodist
Marital Status: Single
MILITARY DATA
Service: Army (Selective Service)
Grade at loss: E4
Rank: Specialist Four
ID No: 54833454
MOS: 11B10 Infantryman
LenSvc: Less than one year
Unit: 2ND PLT, B CO, 2ND BN, 501ST INF RGT, 101 ABN DIV
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: Saturday, 11/23/1968
Cas Date: Sunday, 03/30/1969
Age at Loss: 25
Remains: Body Recovered
Location: Thua Thien, South Vietnam
Type: Hostile, Died Of Wounds
Reason: Gun, Small Arms Fire - Ground Casualty
Nelson is honored on Panel 28W, Row 91 of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
"'Lee' was in my squad and standing right next to me when he was killed. I was the "gunner" and felt so bad
because I always thought the incoming was meant for me. Lee was a terrific guy. We had another nickname for him; we called
him 'Pop'. The 'Pop' tag was because he was older than the rest of us and
really tried to take care of us. What a great guy."
~Pat O'Leary
"I grew up in the same neighborhood with Nelson in Kankakee, Illinois. He was a great guy who had just graduated from
college. He went by his middle name Leport or 'Lee'. His parents and sister have passed on, but his friends on the south
side of Kankakee still appreciate his
memory and sacrifice."
