Sailor/Soldier Rich Nelson

SWAN VALLEY - In 1947, Rich Nelson joined the United States Navy Reserve on the advice of a Navy recruiter visiting his high school in Seattle, Wash. War was about to break out on the Korean Peninsula, and young Rich took the recruiter's advice. After attending basic training in San Diego, he was assigned to a destroyer escort in Seattle.

Rich later transferred to submarines in Tacoma, Wash. He described sub school as two phases, both at Hunters Point, San Francisco.

Picking his "boat" (submarine) was next. His Navy MOS (military occupational specialty) was Quartermaster where he was a DRT or dead reckoning tester, took navigation fixes and helped navigate the "boat" as an assistant navigator.

Regarding serving on a submarine, Rich casually mentioned that, "from the skipper on down, we were all crazy." He must have liked it because he stayed for 13 years in submarines in the Navy Reserve despite his brother submariner, Lindy Nelson's "boat", the USS Stickleback, being "t-boned" by a destroyer (everyone got off).

After 13 years in the Naval Reserve, Rich was about to begin his 17 years in the Army National Guard after he met a US Army Chief Warrant Officer in a bar one afternoon. Taking the "Chief's" advice, Rich was assigned to an Army Boat Company, Landing Craft where he began to take advantage of the service schools offered by the Army National Guard.

After five years in the Boat Company, Rich became a Senior Intel NCO (non-commissioned officer). He was given a Top Secret clearance with a Special Investigation 96B MOS. It was here that he began a career that took him to many different and interesting places while working undercover. He worked primarily in the United States but did assignments out of country where he carried a red US Passport that stated he was on, "Official Business for the US Government."

In France, he taught military classes. In Korea, he worked 12-hour shifts underground with ROK (Republic of Korea) Army Special Forces listening to what the "evil empire" (North Korea) was up to.

While Stateside, he monitored harbor craft, worked with the US Drug Task Force and was a troubleshooter for National Guard units.

Rich normally performed his duties wearing coat and tie civilian clothes but at times he went undercover with the code name "Batman." For example, if the National Guard had a "troubled unit," Rich would go undercover in that particular unit, observe problems and report to higher headquarters. This could involve reporting to general officers who would make corrections/command decisions.

During the interview, Rich did casually mention that he was a patriot, obtained a four-year college degree and wished young men/women of today would take advantage of the schools offered in the military. He mentioned that he was never shot at during his 31 years, six months and seven days of military service.

Being a very humble man, Rich Nelson felt it important to mention friends and members of his family that served during wartime. His father Carl Nelson served with the 339th Field Artillery in WWI. His brother Mel froze his feet fighting with the Army Corps of Engineers during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Brother-in-law Robert Athow was a captain in the US Navy during WWII and Korea. Another brother-in-law Chuck Howard was an infantry soldier in the invasion of Morocco, Sicily and Normandy on Omaha Beach. Howard later became a medic. Both Athow and Howard spent their summers in the Swan with the Nelson family.

If there were words to describe Rich Nelson, I would have to say he was up at the top with those unsung heroes who kept the Russians and Chinese off our backs during the Cold War. Every man/woman serving in the Guard, Reserve, or Active Duty at that time was prepared to give the ultimate sacrifice if called. Many did so.

As for Rich Nelson, when he wasn't on active duty protecting our country, he was teaching public school.  This adds up to a lifetime of service for his country and his local community.