S/Sgt. Orville Thomas Nelson

Parents: Thomas Nelson & Bessie Pender-Nelson

Siblings: 1 sister, 1 brother

Hometown:

    - Forest Park, Illinois

Education:

    - Proviso Township High School

        - Class of 1933

            - left after junior year

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

        - secured barrio of Valencia and Libungao-Palompon Road junction - 10 December 1944

Killed in Action:

    - 15 December 1944

Buried:

    - American Military Cemetery - Manila, Philippine Islands

        -Plot: B   Row: 14   Grave: 117

Medals:

    - Purple Heart

    - Bronze Star

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