- SURNAME
Nelson
- FORENAME
Robert F.
- UNIT
6 SF Group (Company B)
- RANK
Staff Sergeant
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
North Vietnam 1970 (Son Tay)
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Robert F. Nelson, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 21 November 1970 as a member of an all-volunteer joint U.S. Army and Air Force raiding force in the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed heliborne assault mission to rescue United States military personnel held as prisoners of war at Son Tay prison in North Vietnam. This valiant effort was motivated by deep compassion for his imprisoned fellow men-at-arms, and by a strong sense of military duty and national pride. Sergeant Nelson, by swift action and personal example, led his element in a direct assault on the primary guard quarters, clearing the building and neutralizing that threat to the operation. He then exposed himself repeatedly to enemy small arms fire in order to cover the withdrawal of his element to the extraction landing zone. His coolness under fire, courage, and leadership contributed directly to the successful completion of the mission. Sergeant Nelson's conscious disregard for his personal safety, extraordinary heroism against an armed hostile force, and extreme devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself and the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/24590
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