2nd Lieut. George Marius Nelson Jr. (1923-1944)

LEFFLER, NELSON, RICHARDS

Posted By: Eileen Reed
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:00

Goldfield—Lt. George M. Nelson. 21. who has been stationed at the army air base at Sioux City the past several weeks was one of the 17 army airmen who was killed in the collision of 2 Flying Fortresses near Laurel, Nebr., Saturday. Lt. Nelson, the youngest son of Mrs. George Nelson, sr., has been completing his training at Sioux City.

The Globe Gazette --- Mason City, Iowa
Monday, August 7, 1944
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Goldfield and community was saddened Saturday evening when the word was received here of the death of Lieut. George Nelson at Laurel, Nebr. He was one of this communities most popular young boys having been active in high school activities and his splendid work in the United Presbyterian church had made him admired by everyone who came in contact with him.

His death was the result of the collision of two bombers flying in formation from the Sioux City Air Base and the accident occurred at 11:30 Saturday morning.

George graduated from the Goldfield High School with the class of 1940. He attended Junior College at Eagle Grove and while there enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He received his Pre-Flight training at Coe College at Cedar Rapids and then received further training at Tucson, Ariz., Bakersfield, Calif., and Pecos, Texas where he received his wings in May of this year. For several weeks now he had been stationed at Sioux City where he was receiving his final training before going overseas.

On April 24, 1943 he was united in marriage to Miss Gloria Richards and she has accompanied him during his training at the various air bases. Their marriage was the culmination of a high school romance.

The body was accompanied here from Sioux City by Capt. James Law from the Air Base. Funeral services were held at the United Presbyterian church on Wednesday afternoon with the Rev. R. M. McCracken, former pastor from here, in charge of the service. Burial was in the Glenwood cemetery. At the close of the church services the rites were in charge of the military. Six officers from the Sioux City air base served as pall bearers and a flying squadron fired the salute. Chaplain Dean of the Sioux City Air Base gave the sermon at the grave and a bugler from the base blew taps. The flag that was on Lt. Nelson's casket was presented to his widow at the grave.

Obituary

Lieut. George M. Nelson, Jr., the youngest son of George Marius and Mary Leffler Nelson, was born at Goldfield, Iowa, April 18, 1923. He was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Nelson, pioneers of the Goldfield vicinity. He was educated in the rural Elmwood school, and attended Goldfield high school, graduating in the class of 1940. He attended Junior College at Eagle Grove one year. George was an excellent student and was interested in music, athletics, dramatics and other extracurricular activities and gave outstanding service and efficient leadership in everything in which he participated. George united with the U. P. Church in Goldfield at the age of 12.

George joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps in October, 1942, and remained on the alert at his home until Jan. 31, 1943. At this time, he was ordered to report to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., and remained there for over a month before going to the Cadet Training Detachment in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to further his knowledge in aeronautics. On April 24, 1943 George and Gloria Richards were married at the Coe College Chapel in Cedar Rapids. They were separated for a short time while he had Pre-Flight Training in Santa Ana, Calif, in August, 1943; but was rejoined by Gloria for Primary Flight training in September, 1943 at Tucson. Arizona. From there they went to Minter Field, Calif in Dec 1943 for basic. Advanced training was taken at Pecos, Texas. On May 23, 1944 George received his wings and commissioned a Second Lieut. in the U S. Army Air Corps. They spent a short furlough at home before going to Lincoln, Neb. to meet his bomber crew. From there they went to Sioux City, Iowa and here George started his combat crew training.

At 11:55 a. m. Saturday. August 5, 1944, he met instant death when his plane collided with another Flying Fortress near Laurel, Neb. His death came as a great shock to all of his many friends and comrades at the Sioux City Army Air Base. George was a splendid officer and a diligent and competent worker. His death is a great loss to the Air Corps and will be deeply felt by his many friends. Lieut. Nelson is survived by his widow, his mother, Mrs. George Nelson, Sr., two brothers, Winston of Goldfield, and Pvt. (f.c.) Lewis of Fort Snelling, Minn, and a sister, Mary Mildred.

The Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, August 10, 1944