Texas Tech University

Thomas E. Nelson Collection (2454) Finding Aid

Collection Item Number: 24540000000
Title
Finding Aid
Pages
1
Language(s)
English
Dates
Creation: 11 October 2012
Other: Majority of material found within 01 March 1969 - 17 March 1970
Scope and Contents
Less than half a linear foot of material including a daily journal kept by Thomas E. Nelson during his service in Vietnam as a medical technologist in charge of the blood bank with the 71st Evacuation Hospital at Pleiku, 1969-1970. Also included in the donation are letters, a Japanese phrase book, and a soldier's field manual.
Biographical / Historical
Thomas E. Nelson was born on October 6, 1945 in Yorktown, Indiana. He was drafted into the Army in 1968 and was stationed at Fort Campbell from April 1968 to March 1969. Thomas served in Vietnam as a medical technologist in charge of the blood bank with the 71st Evacuation Hospital at Pleiku from April 1969 to March 1970. He was discharged in 1970, with a rank of Specialist 5, and afterward attended graduate school on the G.I. Bill.
  • Box 1: [Barcode: 1] [TTU - Southwest Collections Building, Stacks [D064.2]]
  • Personal diary, 19 March 1969 - 30 June 1969
  • Personal diary, 1 July 1969 - 30 September 1969
  • Personal diary, 1 October 1969 - 30 November 1969
  • Personal diary, 1 December 1969 - 17 March 1970
  • Personal letters sent home by Nelson, 27 March 1969 - 18 January 1970
  • Personal letters Nelson received from home, 17 August 1969 - 16 November 1969
  • Miscellaneous -
  • Miscellaneous letters, 1969-1970
  • War Department "Japanese Phrase Book", 1944
  • Basic Field Manual "Soldier's Handbook", 1941
  • Miscellaneous papers
  • 3rd Marine Division Christmas card from WWII
  • Instructions for guard duty

Perma Link
https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/items.php?item=24540000000

Citation
Thomas E. Nelson Collection (2454) Finding Aid, Thomas E. Nelson Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University, https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/items.php?item=24540000000, Accessed 13 Feb 2026.

Pub Credit Line
24540000000, Thomas E. Nelson Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University

Added: 10 Oct 2012 [Updated: 04 Dec 2019]