Date of Birth: 1/30/44
Tour began: 11/23/68
Date of Casualty: 3/30/1969
Age at time of death: 25
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Methodist
Marital Status: Single
Home of Record: KANKAKEE IL
Rank: SP4
Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM
Casualty Province: THUA THIEN
Hostile, died of wounds, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
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."
