I am writing to tell you how much I enjoy your products and reading the old stories from Marines. My dad was a Marine and sadly passed away three years ago. I really miss him.
SSGT Johnny Nelson proudly served in the Marine Corps, graduating from MCRDPI Platoon 528 in 1951. He served in the Korean War as a crew chief on a Sikorsky helicopter.
Although like many other Marines from that era, he very seldom talked about his experience in Korea. He did tell me once that his chopper was shot down in an enemy area and he was one of only two survivors that had to fight for their lives until they were finally rescued. Both were injured and I believe he said the pilot was the other survivor and he was severely injured. My dad carried a visible piece of that experience in the form of grenade shrapnel in his leg his entire life. He later received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart as well as several other awards. He later went into law enforcement and worked in that capacity until he retired.
Although the Marine legacy skipped a generation with me, (because I went into law enforcement) my youngest son joined in 2011 and also graduated from MCRDPI. My dad had quite an influence on him and ultimately his decision to join. He later served in infantry at Twenty-nine Palms and saw combat action in Afghanistan. He is now out and serving as a third generation police officer.
I couldn’t be more proud of my two Marines!
(The photos are of Johnny Nelson from graduation, with one of his buddies, to law enforcement, his awards and then a picture of my son, Jonathan).
Nelson
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