Russell J. Nelson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Montcalm County, Michigan |
| Disappeared | December 15, 1944 at Sea, Philippines |
| Died | December 15, 1944 At Sea |
| Cause of death | Missing in action or lost at sea, Prisoner of War, under Japanese control |
| Buried | Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917 - 1944 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Service number | O-012423 |
| Unit | 101st Infantry Division (Philippines) |
| Commands | 102nd Infantry Regiment (PA) Cotabato Force |
| Known for | Commanded Cotabato subsector |
| Battles / wars | Battle of Cotabato |
| Awards | Bronze Star Prisoner of War Medal |
Russell J. Nelson, is a US Army colonel who served both on World War I and World War II. He was known to comma.nd Cotabato subsector and Japanese invasion of Mindanao on later Japanese invasion of the Philippines in 1942. He surrendered his regiment upon the surrendered of all forces in the Philippines in May 1942. He went missing at sea when his transport ship was bombed and sunk.
Nelson initially commanded 101st Infantry Regiment, Philippine Army under 101st Infantry Division based in Dansalan, Lanao. In November 1941, the division transferred to Malaybalay, Bukidnon.[1]
In December, he was sent by then Colonel Joseph Vachon, commander 101st Infantry Division to Cotabato, Cotabato to thwart any Japanese landings in the area.[1] He organized his troops from local volunteers, PC units, and later 2nd Battalion, 102nd Infantry under Major William Baldwin arrived from Cagayan.[2] Another battalion arrived 2nd Battalion, 103rd Infantry and 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery (Fighting as infantry)[1]
When General Sharp ordered his Mindanao-Visayas Force to surrendered. He became POW and incarcerated in Camp Casisang, Malaybalay, Bukidnon. Later, he was moved to Cagayan and transported to Luzon. He along with other POW was boarded to one of transport ships to move to Japan. However, his ship was bombed and sunk. Colonel Nelson was missing and presumed dead on December 15, 1944. His memoriam is in the Walls of Missing at American Manila Cemetery, in the Philippines.[3]
- ^ a b c Morton, Louis (1953). The Fall of the Philippines, November 1941 – May 1942 (1st ed.). Washington, D.C: US Government Printing Press (published June 26, 1953). pp. 510–512.
- ^ Tarkington, Hiram. There were others. pp. 245–246.
- ^ "Russell J Nelson : Colonel from Michigan, World War II Casualty". www.honorstates.org. Retrieved 2024-10-01.