[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 10, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E66]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO KEITH NELSON

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                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 10, 2007

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the patriotism 
and military service of Mr. Keith Nelson of Fleming, Colorado.
  Mr. Nelson was born in Sterling, Colorado, and served in the Army in 
the Pacific theater during World War II from 1944 to 1946. During his 
military service, he witnessed an incredibly significant moment in 
history, the end of the Battle of Okinawa. I believe his story is most 
worthy of being preserved in the Congressional Record.
  It was close to the end of the fighting in Okinawa, when L Company, 
32nd Regiment, 7th Infantry Division had been assigned the task of 
taking a grove of trees near the southern tip of the island, one of the 
last pockets of Japanese resistance. Mr. Nelson's platoon was led by a 
former marine who wanted the glory of reaching the ocean first. As they 
entered the trees, an American flame throwing tank came up behind them; 
it had probably been assigned the job of burning the brush and flushing 
out any concealed Japanese soldiers.
  Being the scout of the platoon, Mr. Nelson was assigned the job of 
stopping the tank. He went warily back, and walked up very close to the 
tank, and shouted at the soldiers inside. They hadn't seen Nelson, and 
when they heard him, they threw the flamethrower in his face. He jumped 
back and began yelling so they would know he wasn't the enemy and, 
fortunately they calmed down.
  When Nelson got back to his company, his platoon leader rushed them 
through the grove as fast as they could go. If enemy soldiers had been 
in there, they would all have been dead.
  They kept moving until they could see the edge of the cliff bordering 
the water; their leader had achieved his objective. As platoon scout, 
Mr. Nelson was the first to look upon that glorious scene, the end of 
the Battle of Okinawa. And though he didn't know it at the time, that 
made him the first to see the end of fighting in World War II.
  After the war, Keith returned to Colorado and married Wanda Moncrief 
in 1948. They had four sons, Dennis, Brett, Elon, and Gary. Mr. Nelson 
currently resides in Fleming, Colorado.
  Madam Speaker, I am grateful for Mr. Nelson's selfless service to our 
Nation. His story should be preserved for posterity. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing a man worthy of our honor, Mr. 
Keith Nelson.

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