Milton Eugene "Nellie" Nelson was born March 6, 1925 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, the son of Marie Ernestine German (1902-2003) and Dewitt Talmage Ivanson Nelson (1891-1973).
He graduated from high school in Tarrant, Alabama, in June 1942, and entered active military service shortly thereafter. While waiting for his assignment as an aviation cadet he attended college for a nunber of months. He received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and his pilot wings in August 1944. He was then assigned to B-17's as an Aircraft Commander with the Eighth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations in England. In late April 1945, after his local checkout, he was about to fly his first combat mission into Germany. As the force was all lined up and ready for takeoff, a red flare was fired from the control tower and the mission was canceled. The bombing in Germany was over. He flew a number of support missions mainly into France and in June 1945, he returned to the United States and served as an operations staff officer and attended single engine instructor pilot training.
In December 1946 he was transferred to Japan and served as an operations officer with the 314th Composite Wing and later was a fighter pilot and staff officer with the 49th Fighter Group.
Nellie met his future wife Enid "Sherry" Peterson while she was working as a secretary at Misawa Air Base, Japan in 1948.
He was transferred to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, in May 1949, and served with the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Fighter Group. During the Korean War, he went with the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group to Korea and Japan in December 1950 and flew a combat tour in F-86A aircraft with the Fifth Air Force. In the brief period between May 20, 1951 and July 11, 1951, then Captain Nelson was credited with four confirmed MiG-15 kills. He was awarded a Silver Star for the last two kills.
In September 1951 he was transferred to Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, where he served as aircraft maintenance officer with the 431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. He was sent to Ent Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, in May 1953 as an operations staff officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Air Defense Command.
On August 23, 1955, Milton Eugene 'Nellie' Nelson and Enid Stenfeldt "Sherry" Peterson were married at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Ocsoda, Isoco County, Michigan. They spent their honeymoon flying about the country in a Cessna 120 for thirty days.
Children:
• Camron Eugene (Cathrn) (1957-__)
• Kent Eugene (Leslie) (1959-__)
• Karen Elise Reuland (Michael) (1961-__)
Nellie became a student at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in October 1955. After graduation in May 1956 he was assigned as experimental test pilot and chief, Fighter Test Branch, at Headquarters Wright Air Development Center of the Air Force Systems Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He test-flew all Air Force jet fighter aircraft from the F-80 to the F-106. I recall him showing me a page from his Form 5 in which he flew six different front line fighters in one month.
He entered the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in September 1960 and after graduation in August 1961 he went to Fuchu Air Station, Japan, as operations staff officer, Tactical Air Division, and later was assistant chief, Office of Tactical Evaluation and Standardization Fifth Air Force. He moved to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in June 1962, and served as chief of the Tactical Division and later as deputy commander of the Pacific Air Forces Standardization and Evaluation Group.
Nellie returned to the United States and in August 1964 was appointed Chief of Operational Training, 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing, and later was commander, 4526th Combat Crew Training Squadron (F-105), at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
He was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam in November 1965 as operations staff officer with the 2nd Air Division and later with the Seventh Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Airfield.
In August 1966 he became a student at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
He was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in August 1967 in operational and test evaluation, and in 1969 became assistant for joint matters to the director of operations in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations.
He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland in 1970.
He then became the deputy chief of staff for plans, Air Training Command, at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in August 1971 after having been selected for promotion to Brigadier General.
His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon.
After retirement in 1975, he became a loan officer and later the Vice President of Farm & Home Savings in Austin, Texas.
Sherry died in 1985 in Austin, Texas from cancer.
On July 26, 1986, Eileen Kathaleen Roy Wilen (1921-2011) and Milton Eugene 'Nellie' Nelson were married at the Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas. After the ceremony, Willie Nelson's rendition of September Song was played.
They resided for a number of years in Pinson, Alabama and in 2000 they entered The Army Residence Community (ARC) in San Antonio, Texas. Eileen died in 2011.
On Thursday, 9/11/2014, Nellie went to the 11:00 o'clock 9/11 memorial service at the ARC and as he went to sit down he fell to the floor and never got up.
We only knew Nellie and Eileen since 2000, but I'll always remember him as a kind, caring, considerate, a perfect gentleman and a great fighter pilot.
While we traveled in our trailer we had the pleasure of visiting with Nellie and Eileen at Patrick AFB, Florida, Tyndall AFB, Florida, Bar Harbor, Maine, Great Bend, Texas, Goose Island, Texas, Fort Davis, Texas, Lake Corpus Christi, Texas, Vallecito, Colorado, and at their home in San Antonio, Texas.
You and Eileen will be missed my friend. I'll see you on the other side.
He graduated from high school in Tarrant, Alabama, in June 1942, and entered active military service shortly thereafter. While waiting for his assignment as an aviation cadet he attended college for a nunber of months. He received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and his pilot wings in August 1944. He was then assigned to B-17's as an Aircraft Commander with the Eighth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations in England. In late April 1945, after his local checkout, he was about to fly his first combat mission into Germany. As the force was all lined up and ready for takeoff, a red flare was fired from the control tower and the mission was canceled. The bombing in Germany was over. He flew a number of support missions mainly into France and in June 1945, he returned to the United States and served as an operations staff officer and attended single engine instructor pilot training.
In December 1946 he was transferred to Japan and served as an operations officer with the 314th Composite Wing and later was a fighter pilot and staff officer with the 49th Fighter Group.
Nellie met his future wife Enid "Sherry" Peterson while she was working as a secretary at Misawa Air Base, Japan in 1948.
He was transferred to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, in May 1949, and served with the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Fighter Group. During the Korean War, he went with the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group to Korea and Japan in December 1950 and flew a combat tour in F-86A aircraft with the Fifth Air Force. In the brief period between May 20, 1951 and July 11, 1951, then Captain Nelson was credited with four confirmed MiG-15 kills. He was awarded a Silver Star for the last two kills.
In September 1951 he was transferred to Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, where he served as aircraft maintenance officer with the 431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. He was sent to Ent Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, in May 1953 as an operations staff officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Air Defense Command.
On August 23, 1955, Milton Eugene 'Nellie' Nelson and Enid Stenfeldt "Sherry" Peterson were married at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Ocsoda, Isoco County, Michigan. They spent their honeymoon flying about the country in a Cessna 120 for thirty days.
Children:
• Camron Eugene (Cathrn) (1957-__)
• Kent Eugene (Leslie) (1959-__)
• Karen Elise Reuland (Michael) (1961-__)
Nellie became a student at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in October 1955. After graduation in May 1956 he was assigned as experimental test pilot and chief, Fighter Test Branch, at Headquarters Wright Air Development Center of the Air Force Systems Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He test-flew all Air Force jet fighter aircraft from the F-80 to the F-106. I recall him showing me a page from his Form 5 in which he flew six different front line fighters in one month.
He entered the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in September 1960 and after graduation in August 1961 he went to Fuchu Air Station, Japan, as operations staff officer, Tactical Air Division, and later was assistant chief, Office of Tactical Evaluation and Standardization Fifth Air Force. He moved to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in June 1962, and served as chief of the Tactical Division and later as deputy commander of the Pacific Air Forces Standardization and Evaluation Group.
Nellie returned to the United States and in August 1964 was appointed Chief of Operational Training, 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing, and later was commander, 4526th Combat Crew Training Squadron (F-105), at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
He was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam in November 1965 as operations staff officer with the 2nd Air Division and later with the Seventh Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Airfield.
In August 1966 he became a student at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
He was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in August 1967 in operational and test evaluation, and in 1969 became assistant for joint matters to the director of operations in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations.
He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland in 1970.
He then became the deputy chief of staff for plans, Air Training Command, at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in August 1971 after having been selected for promotion to Brigadier General.
His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon.
After retirement in 1975, he became a loan officer and later the Vice President of Farm & Home Savings in Austin, Texas.
Sherry died in 1985 in Austin, Texas from cancer.
On July 26, 1986, Eileen Kathaleen Roy Wilen (1921-2011) and Milton Eugene 'Nellie' Nelson were married at the Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas. After the ceremony, Willie Nelson's rendition of September Song was played.
They resided for a number of years in Pinson, Alabama and in 2000 they entered The Army Residence Community (ARC) in San Antonio, Texas. Eileen died in 2011.
On Thursday, 9/11/2014, Nellie went to the 11:00 o'clock 9/11 memorial service at the ARC and as he went to sit down he fell to the floor and never got up.
We only knew Nellie and Eileen since 2000, but I'll always remember him as a kind, caring, considerate, a perfect gentleman and a great fighter pilot.
While we traveled in our trailer we had the pleasure of visiting with Nellie and Eileen at Patrick AFB, Florida, Tyndall AFB, Florida, Bar Harbor, Maine, Great Bend, Texas, Goose Island, Texas, Fort Davis, Texas, Lake Corpus Christi, Texas, Vallecito, Colorado, and at their home in San Antonio, Texas.
You and Eileen will be missed my friend. I'll see you on the other side.
Milton Eugene "Nellie" Nelson was born March 6, 1925 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, the son of Marie Ernestine German (1902-2003) and Dewitt Talmage Ivanson Nelson (1891-1973).
He graduated from high school in Tarrant, Alabama, in June 1942, and entered active military service shortly thereafter. While waiting for his assignment as an aviation cadet he attended college for a nunber of months. He received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and his pilot wings in August 1944. He was then assigned to B-17's as an Aircraft Commander with the Eighth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations in England. In late April 1945, after his local checkout, he was about to fly his first combat mission into Germany. As the force was all lined up and ready for takeoff, a red flare was fired from the control tower and the mission was canceled. The bombing in Germany was over. He flew a number of support missions mainly into France and in June 1945, he returned to the United States and served as an operations staff officer and attended single engine instructor pilot training.
In December 1946 he was transferred to Japan and served as an operations officer with the 314th Composite Wing and later was a fighter pilot and staff officer with the 49th Fighter Group.
Nellie met his future wife Enid "Sherry" Peterson while she was working as a secretary at Misawa Air Base, Japan in 1948.
He was transferred to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, in May 1949, and served with the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Fighter Group. During the Korean War, he went with the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group to Korea and Japan in December 1950 and flew a combat tour in F-86A aircraft with the Fifth Air Force. In the brief period between May 20, 1951 and July 11, 1951, then Captain Nelson was credited with four confirmed MiG-15 kills. He was awarded a Silver Star for the last two kills.
In September 1951 he was transferred to Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, where he served as aircraft maintenance officer with the 431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. He was sent to Ent Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, in May 1953 as an operations staff officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Air Defense Command.
On August 23, 1955, Milton Eugene 'Nellie' Nelson and Enid Stenfeldt "Sherry" Peterson were married at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Ocsoda, Isoco County, Michigan. They spent their honeymoon flying about the country in a Cessna 120 for thirty days.
Children:
• Camron Eugene (Cathrn) (1957-__)
• Kent Eugene (Leslie) (1959-__)
• Karen Elise Reuland (Michael) (1961-__)
Nellie became a student at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in October 1955. After graduation in May 1956 he was assigned as experimental test pilot and chief, Fighter Test Branch, at Headquarters Wright Air Development Center of the Air Force Systems Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He test-flew all Air Force jet fighter aircraft from the F-80 to the F-106. I recall him showing me a page from his Form 5 in which he flew six different front line fighters in one month.
He entered the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in September 1960 and after graduation in August 1961 he went to Fuchu Air Station, Japan, as operations staff officer, Tactical Air Division, and later was assistant chief, Office of Tactical Evaluation and Standardization Fifth Air Force. He moved to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in June 1962, and served as chief of the Tactical Division and later as deputy commander of the Pacific Air Forces Standardization and Evaluation Group.
Nellie returned to the United States and in August 1964 was appointed Chief of Operational Training, 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing, and later was commander, 4526th Combat Crew Training Squadron (F-105), at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
He was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam in November 1965 as operations staff officer with the 2nd Air Division and later with the Seventh Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Airfield.
In August 1966 he became a student at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
He was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in August 1967 in operational and test evaluation, and in 1969 became assistant for joint matters to the director of operations in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations.
He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland in 1970.
He then became the deputy chief of staff for plans, Air Training Command, at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in August 1971 after having been selected for promotion to Brigadier General.
His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon.
After retirement in 1975, he became a loan officer and later the Vice President of Farm & Home Savings in Austin, Texas.
Sherry died in 1985 in Austin, Texas from cancer.
On July 26, 1986, Eileen Kathaleen Roy Wilen (1921-2011) and Milton Eugene 'Nellie' Nelson were married at the Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas. After the ceremony, Willie Nelson's rendition of September Song was played.
They resided for a number of years in Pinson, Alabama and in 2000 they entered The Army Residence Community (ARC) in San Antonio, Texas. Eileen died in 2011.
On Thursday, 9/11/2014, Nellie went to the 11:00 o'clock 9/11 memorial service at the ARC and as he went to sit down he fell to the floor and never got up.
We only knew Nellie and Eileen since 2000, but I'll always remember him as a kind, caring, considerate, a perfect gentleman and a great fighter pilot.
While we traveled in our trailer we had the pleasure of visiting with Nellie and Eileen at Patrick AFB, Florida, Tyndall AFB, Florida, Bar Harbor, Maine, Great Bend, Texas, Goose Island, Texas, Fort Davis, Texas, Lake Corpus Christi, Texas, Vallecito, Colorado, and at their home in San Antonio, Texas.
You and Eileen will be missed my friend. I'll see you on the other side.
He graduated from high school in Tarrant, Alabama, in June 1942, and entered active military service shortly thereafter. While waiting for his assignment as an aviation cadet he attended college for a nunber of months. He received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and his pilot wings in August 1944. He was then assigned to B-17's as an Aircraft Commander with the Eighth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations in England. In late April 1945, after his local checkout, he was about to fly his first combat mission into Germany. As the force was all lined up and ready for takeoff, a red flare was fired from the control tower and the mission was canceled. The bombing in Germany was over. He flew a number of support missions mainly into France and in June 1945, he returned to the United States and served as an operations staff officer and attended single engine instructor pilot training.
In December 1946 he was transferred to Japan and served as an operations officer with the 314th Composite Wing and later was a fighter pilot and staff officer with the 49th Fighter Group.
Nellie met his future wife Enid "Sherry" Peterson while she was working as a secretary at Misawa Air Base, Japan in 1948.
He was transferred to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, in May 1949, and served with the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Fighter Group. During the Korean War, he went with the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group to Korea and Japan in December 1950 and flew a combat tour in F-86A aircraft with the Fifth Air Force. In the brief period between May 20, 1951 and July 11, 1951, then Captain Nelson was credited with four confirmed MiG-15 kills. He was awarded a Silver Star for the last two kills.
In September 1951 he was transferred to Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, where he served as aircraft maintenance officer with the 431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. He was sent to Ent Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, in May 1953 as an operations staff officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Air Defense Command.
On August 23, 1955, Milton Eugene 'Nellie' Nelson and Enid Stenfeldt "Sherry" Peterson were married at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Ocsoda, Isoco County, Michigan. They spent their honeymoon flying about the country in a Cessna 120 for thirty days.
Children:
• Camron Eugene (Cathrn) (1957-__)
• Kent Eugene (Leslie) (1959-__)
• Karen Elise Reuland (Michael) (1961-__)
Nellie became a student at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in October 1955. After graduation in May 1956 he was assigned as experimental test pilot and chief, Fighter Test Branch, at Headquarters Wright Air Development Center of the Air Force Systems Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He test-flew all Air Force jet fighter aircraft from the F-80 to the F-106. I recall him showing me a page from his Form 5 in which he flew six different front line fighters in one month.
He entered the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in September 1960 and after graduation in August 1961 he went to Fuchu Air Station, Japan, as operations staff officer, Tactical Air Division, and later was assistant chief, Office of Tactical Evaluation and Standardization Fifth Air Force. He moved to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in June 1962, and served as chief of the Tactical Division and later as deputy commander of the Pacific Air Forces Standardization and Evaluation Group.
Nellie returned to the United States and in August 1964 was appointed Chief of Operational Training, 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing, and later was commander, 4526th Combat Crew Training Squadron (F-105), at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
He was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam in November 1965 as operations staff officer with the 2nd Air Division and later with the Seventh Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Airfield.
In August 1966 he became a student at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
He was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in August 1967 in operational and test evaluation, and in 1969 became assistant for joint matters to the director of operations in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations.
He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland in 1970.
He then became the deputy chief of staff for plans, Air Training Command, at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in August 1971 after having been selected for promotion to Brigadier General.
His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon.
After retirement in 1975, he became a loan officer and later the Vice President of Farm & Home Savings in Austin, Texas.
Sherry died in 1985 in Austin, Texas from cancer.
On July 26, 1986, Eileen Kathaleen Roy Wilen (1921-2011) and Milton Eugene 'Nellie' Nelson were married at the Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas. After the ceremony, Willie Nelson's rendition of September Song was played.
They resided for a number of years in Pinson, Alabama and in 2000 they entered The Army Residence Community (ARC) in San Antonio, Texas. Eileen died in 2011.
On Thursday, 9/11/2014, Nellie went to the 11:00 o'clock 9/11 memorial service at the ARC and as he went to sit down he fell to the floor and never got up.
We only knew Nellie and Eileen since 2000, but I'll always remember him as a kind, caring, considerate, a perfect gentleman and a great fighter pilot.
While we traveled in our trailer we had the pleasure of visiting with Nellie and Eileen at Patrick AFB, Florida, Tyndall AFB, Florida, Bar Harbor, Maine, Great Bend, Texas, Goose Island, Texas, Fort Davis, Texas, Lake Corpus Christi, Texas, Vallecito, Colorado, and at their home in San Antonio, Texas.
You and Eileen will be missed my friend. I'll see you on the other side.
Inscription
MILTON
EUGENE
NELSON
BRIG GEN
US AIR FORCE
WW II KOREA
VIETNAM
MAR 6 1925
SEP 11 2014
SILVER STAR
LM DFC AM
Family Members
Siblings
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