Ex-Sioux City Policeman Impressed with Marines
Private Arnold Nielsen Lauds Camp Athletic Facilities
Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California -- Special: Marine Pvt. Arnold Richard Nielsen, 2115 Villa Avenue, Sioux City, former professional football player and semi- professional basketball player, is impressed with marine manpower here.
“I’ve never seen so many well proportioned, rugged men,” he declared. “This camp would be a paradise for coaches looking for athletic material.”
Awed by the marine combat conditioning and combat swimming courses, Pvt. Nielsen said he was convinced that the course of training plus calisthenics could make a rough and tough marine of any man.
He said he had experienced little difficulty getting into good physical condition. He attributed his preenlistment physical well-being to his athletic training and conditioning while a member of the Sioux City police department.
FORMER OLYMPIC STAR
Private Nielsen played fullback three years on the Sioux City Olympics professional football team, which was managed by Morey Wiles and coached by Capt. Herb Baumstien, United States army. He also played guard three years on the semiprofessional Swift & Co. basketball team at Sioux City.
He was employed 17 months by the Sioux City police department before enlisting in the Marine Corps March 31, 1944 at Omaha. While a member of the department, he was thoroughly trained in judo, first aid, revolver and Reising and Thompson submachine gun marksmanship.
This training, he said, had come in handy while attending the infantry and Browning automatic rifle section school here at training command. He was recently graduated from the school and training has prepared him for participating in amphibious landings and establishing and securing beachheads.
SIOUX RAPIDS GRADUATE
Private Nielsen was graduated in 1934 from Sioux Rapids High School where he won four letters in football, three letters in basketball and four letters in track. He also was active in dramatics and was senior and sophomore class president.
He attended Estherville College, Estherville, Iowa 1935 – 1936 where he played both football and basketball and the University of Iowa in 1937.
His wife, the former Monica Saladonis and children, Garry Keith, 3, Reba Kay, 2, and Georgie Alan, 9 months, reside at the Sioux City address.
Source: The Sioux City Journal-Tribune, August 24, 1944 (photo included)
