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Casualty Info
Home Town Everett, WA
Last Address Bellingham, WA
Casualty Date Nov 19, 1944
Cause KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Sea
Location Pacific
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery and Memorial - Manila, Philippines
Wall/Plot Coordinates (cenotaph)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
ENS Nelson was a member of VF-20 aboard the USS Enterprise. His plane was shot down on November 19, 1944. His body was not recovered and he was later declared dead.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 305688
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during World War II
Service: Navy
Battalion: Fighting Squadron 20 (VF-20)
Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)
General Orders: Commander 1st Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 046 (January 31, 1945)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ensign Robert Kolden Nelson (NSN: 0-305688), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron TWENTY (VF-20), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle for Leyte Gulf, on 25 October 1944. Fearless and determined under a terrific barrage from Japanese guns as he launched a daring attach against an enemy Fleet Task Group, Ensign Nelson plunged through a fierce hail of anti-aircraft fire to press home his relentless thrusts and, fighting his plane gallantly, succeeded in scoring a direct bomb hit on a light cruiser. By his superb airmanship and indomitable courage in the face of formidable odds, Ensign Nelson contributed materially to the accomplishment of his squadron's mission and thereby to the ultimate success of our aerial offensive in this vital theater of war. His unswerving devotion to duty throughout this and numerous other hazardous operations was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Leyte Campaign (1944)
From Month/Year
October / 1944
To Month/Year
November / 1944
Description The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the amphibious invasion of the Gulf of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Filipino guerrilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by General Tomoyuki Yamashita from 17 October 1944 - 1 July 1945. The operation code named King Two launched the Philippines campaign of 1944–45 for the recapture and liberation of the entire Philippine Archipelago and to end almost three years of Japanese occupation.
