Scope and Contents

Three reels of Super 8 film and a copy of a newspaper article document James W. Nelson's service in the United States Air Force in Vietnam with the 22nd Tactical Air Support Squadron at Binh Thuy Air Force Base, 1968-1970, where he was a forward air controller, tactical air liaison officer, and operations staff officer and flew 603 combat missions totaling 652 hours in an O-1.

Biographical / Historical

James W. Nelson earned a Bachelor's degree in History from Wisconsin State College and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the college's ROTC program in 1952. He completed pilot training in October 1953 and was stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, flying B-57s for Strategic Air Command (SAC) until 1956 when he went on inactive status. Nelson returned to active duty in November 1959. From 1968-1970, Nelson served in Vietnam with the 22nd Tactical Air Support Squadron at Binh Thuy Air Force Base where he was a forward air controller, tactical air liaison officer, and operations staff officer and flew 603 combat missions totaling 652 hours in an O-1. Nelson's many decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 17 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Korean Service Medal,