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Maj. Gen. Charles Costanza, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, pins U.S Army Veteran Staff Sgt. Harold Nelson, an infantryman and Dogface Soldier, the Silver Star Medal during an award ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, Oct. 4th, 2022. Nelson, now 107 years old, was drafted into the United States Army on July 14, 1941, from Fort Crook, Nebraska. He entered World War II with F Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, as part of Operation Torch in Morocco. Following intense fighting in Northern Africa, Nelson participated in Operation Husky in Sicily, and Operations Avalanche and Shingle in Italy. The 3rd ID also inducted Nelson into the Marne Hall of Fame class of 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bernabe Lopez III, 50th Public Affairs Detachment)
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Maj. Gen. Charles Costanza, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, and U.S. Army Veteran Staff Sgt. Harold Nelson, an infantryman and Dogface Soldier, salute as the national anthem plays during Nelson's Silver Star Medal ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, Oct. 4th, 2022. The Army Board for Corrections of Military Records awarded Nelson the Silver Star based on his detailed account of combat with 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd ID during World War II and a letter from his then-commander, Capt. James Pearman Jr., who described his efforts to award Nelson the Silver Star Medal. The Silver Star was established by Act of Congress on July 9, 1918, and is awarded to Nelson for his conspicuous gallantry and uncommon heroism while under fire which were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3rd ID and the U.S. Army. The 3rd ID also inducted Nelson into the Marne Hall of Fame class of 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bernabe Lopez III, 50th Public Affairs Detachment)
(Photo Credit: Pfc. Bernabe Lopez III)VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT CARSON, Co. — The 3rd Infantry Division presented a Silver Star Medal to Staff Sgt. Harold A. Nelson, an infantryman and Dogface Soldier, for his service in World War II from Nov. 1942 to June 1944 during an award ceremony at 4th Infantry Division’s Headquarters on Fort Carson, Colorado, Oct. 4, 2022.
”Harold Nelson served our nation with honor and distinction and I am grateful that we could honor his service today,” said Costanza. “It is important to ensure that the service and sacrifice of our veterans, those whose shoulders we stand upon now, is never overlooked or forgotten. Harold is a Dogface Soldier and I’m proud to call myself one too.”
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Maj. Gen. Charles Costanza, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, delivers a speech during a Silver Star Medal ceremony for U.S. Army Veteran Staff Sgt. Harold Nelson, a World War II Veteran of 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, at Fort Carson, Colorado, Oct. 4th, 2022. According to Nelson, his unit helped liberate Anzio, Italy, from enemy forces in 1944. While his unit was moving towards Rome, they came under fire from German forces. Nelson had expended all of his ammunition, so he climbed onto an abandoned German tank and began firing back. This act suppressed German fighters long enough for his platoon to move to a better position to attack and led to the surrender of the enemy forces during that battle. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bernabe Lopez III, 50th Public Affairs Detachment)
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Maj. Gen. Charles Costanza, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, and U.S. Army Veteran Staff Sgt. Harold Nelson, an infantryman and Dogface Soldier, sing the Marne and Army songs during a Silver Star Medal ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, Oct. 4th, 2022. The Army Board for Corrections of Military Records awarded Nelson the Silver Star based on his detailed account of combat with 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd ID during World War II and a letter from his then-commander, Capt. James Pearman Jr., who described his efforts to award Nelson the Silver Star Medal. The Silver Star was established by Act of Congress on July 9, 1918, and is awarded to Nelson for his conspicuous gallantry and uncommon heroism while under fire which were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3rd ID and the U.S. Army. The 3rd ID also inducted Nelson into the Marne Hall of Fame class of 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bernabe Lopez III, 50th Public Affairs Detachment)
(Photo Credit: Pfc. Bernabe Lopez III)VIEW ORIGINAL
Nelson was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 14, 1941, from Fort Cook, Nebraska, and entered World War II with Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. During his time with his unit, Nelson took part in Operation Torch in Morocco. Following the intense fighting in Northern Africa, Nelson also took part in Operation Husky in Sicily and Operations Avalanche and Shingle in Italy.
According to Nelson, the 107-year-old veteran participated in multiple amphibious landings while living in austere and dangerous conditions for two years during 3rd ID’s involvement in World War II and suffered three gunshot wounds for which he was eventually discharged from the Army in June 1945.
Based on Nelson’s detailed account of combat during World War II, and a letter of recommendation from his then-commander, Capt. James Pearman Jr., who described his efforts to award Nelson the Silver Star, the award was approved on June 22, 2022, by the Army’s Human Resources Command. Costanza presented the award to Nelson in a ceremony hosted by the 4th ID.
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The 4th Infantry Division’s Mountain Color Guard pose for a photo during a Silver Star Medal ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, Oct. 4th, 2022. The 3rd Infantry Division presented the Silver Star Medal Oct. 4, 2022, to U.S. Army Soldier Staff Sgt. Harold Nelson who fought in World War II from November 1942 to June 1944. Nelson, 107 years old, was approved for the Silver Star Medal on June 22, 2022, by
the Army’s Human Resources Command. U.S. Army Maj. General Charles Costanza, the 3rd Infantry Division Commanding General, presented the award to Nelson at a ceremony on Fort Carson, Colorado, hosted by the 4th Infantry Division. Nelson received the Silver Star Medal for his conspicuous gallantry and uncommon heroism while under fire which were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3rd ID and the U.S. Army. The 3rd ID also inducted Nelson into the Marne Hall of Fame class of 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bernabe Lopez III, 50th Public Affairs Detachment)
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Maj. Gen. Charles Costanza, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, and Harold Nelson, a former infantryman and Dogface Soldier, and the 107-year-old Veteran's Family listen to a recounting of Nelson’s life during his Silver Star Medal ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, Oct. 4th, 2022. U.S. Army Soldier Staff Sgt. Harold Nelson fought in World War II from November 1942 to June 1944 and participated in Operation Torch in Morocco, intense fighting in Northern Africa, Operation Husky in Sicily, and finally, Operations Avalanche and Shingle in Italy. In total, Nelson participated in six amphibious landings and lived in austere and dangerous conditions for two years during 3rd Infantry Division’s World War II campaign. During his wartime service, he sustained three gunshot wounds and was eventually discharged from the Army in June 1945. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bernabe Lopez III, 50th Public Affairs Detachment)
(Photo Credit: Pfc. Bernabe Lopez III)VIEW ORIGINAL
According to Nelson, he had run out of ammunition, ran a couple hundred yards under enemy fire, climbed on top of an abandoned German tank and fired the machine gun at the enemy to allow his men to advance. However, a German saw Nelson and threw a hand grenade at him which hit his backpack. The grenade tore Nelson’s backpack apart and while he smelled blood, he could not find any on himself and continued shooting until the Germans finally surrendered.
In 2019, Nelson petitioned the Army Board for Corrections of Military Records to determine if he should be awarded the Silver Star, however, in 1973, a fire broke out at the military records storage facility which partially destroyed Nelson’s records and reduced the amount of supporting documents Nelson could submit for the petition.
The Silver Star Medal was established by Act of Congress on July 9, 1918, and is awarded to a person for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
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Maj. Gen. Charles Costanza, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, and U.S. Army Veteran Staff Sgt. Harold Nelson, an infantryman and Dogface Soldier, bow their heads in a prayer during Nelson's Silver Star Medal ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, Oct. 4th, 2022. Nelson was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 14, 1941, from Fort Crook, Nebraska. He entered World War II with F Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, as part of Operation Torch in Morocco. Following intense fighting in Northern Africa, Nelson participated in Operation Husky in Sicily, and Operations Avalanche and Shingle in Italy. The Silver Star was established by Act of Congress on July 9, 1918, and is awarded to Nelson for his conspicuous gallantry and uncommon heroism while under fire which were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3rd ID and the U.S. Army. The 3rd ID also inducted Nelson into the Marne Hall of Fame class of 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bernabe Lopez III, 50th Public Affairs Detachment)
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U.S. Army Veteran Staff Sgt. Harold Nelson, an infantryman and 3rd Infantry Division Dogface Soldier, poses for a photo during a Silver Star Medal ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, Oct. 4th, 2022. The Army Board for Corrections of Military Records awarded Nelson the Silver Star based on his detailed account of combat with 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd ID during World War II and a letter from his then-commander, Capt. James Pearman Jr., who described his efforts to award Nelson the Silver Star Medal. The Silver Star was established by Act of Congress on July 9, 1918, and is awarded to Nelson for his conspicuous gallantry and uncommon heroism while under fire which were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3rd ID and the U.S. Army. The 3rd ID also inducted Nelson into the Marne Hall of Fame class of 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bernabe Lopez III, 50th Public Affairs Detachment)
(Photo Credit: Pfc. Bernabe Lopez III)VIEW ORIGINAL
“I appreciate what they have done. It’s a wonderful thing,” said Nelson. “I guess it means I did what I was supposed to do.”
The 3rd ID’s Marne Hall of Fame recognizes Dogface Soldiers that served and left a lasting impact within the 104-year-old organization, and for his service, valor and achievements, the 3rd ID also inducted Nelson into the Marne Hall of Fame class of 2022.
“This moment means I’ve had a great life, a great family and great friends,” said Nelson. “And a lot of fun throughout the years.”
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