Page 47 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine

AIR FORCE
VIETNAM

LUBBOCK
According to Nelson, “The plane took numerous hits
of .50 caliber rounds in the left wing. The number one
engine caught fire, so I shut it down. The number two
engine also caught fire, so I had to shut it down, too.
We had to land the plane, loaded down with 40,000
pounds of ammunition, on a short 2500-foot runway
with two engines on fire. Unable to stop, we skidded
off the end of the runway as parts of the wing fell off.
We opened the rear aircraft door and walked up the
tire tracks to a bunker. Out of our five crewmen, only
two of us were wounded. I had shrapnel in my right
knee. Our loadmaster had a broken neck and arm and
shrapnel wounds. The loadmaster and I were sent to a
field hospital at Cam Ranh Bay. In two days, I was back
to flying. In August 1969, I was awarded the Purple
Heart at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taiwan by Col.
James, Wing Commander, 64th Tactical Airlift Wing. Expeditionary, National Defense, Vietnam Service,
Republic of Vietnam Campaign, Air Force Longevity
Award Ribbon, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Ribbon and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship
Ribbon.

After leaving the Air Force, John “stayed in Lubbock
and built a business.” He has owned John Nelson
Realtors since 1980 and is currently a Financial Advisor
for Capital Choice Financial Services and an Endorsed
Local Provider for Investments for Dave Ramsey. He
has 39 years of experience in the investment business.
He and his wife Caryl Ann have two daughters:
Kendra, born at Sewart AFB and Katherine, born in
Taipei, Taiwan. John went on the 2016 Texas South
Plains Honor Flight as a guardian. When asked how
the military enhanced his life, John remarked, “It gave
me confidence for life!”

Many more sorties were to follow for Captain Nelson.
His crew would also haul Viet Cong prisoners to
Duong Dong where they would be handed over to the
South Vietnamese and imprisoned at Phu Quoc Island.

In all, he logged 2600 hours of combat flight over a
24-month period in Vietnam. After leaving Vietnam,
he was stationed at Laredo AFB for two years and
was then discharged from active duty at Reese AFB
in Texas on November 11, 1974. In addition to the
Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart, John
received five Air Medals and the following medals
and ribbons: Air Force Commendation, Armed Forces

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