Calvin E. Nelson, Army Air Corps.

Born June 13, 1925 in Wichita Falls, TX. where he completed High School in 1942.

Drafted into army in December, 1943, he entered service at Camp Wolters near Mineral Wells, TX. Assigned to Army Air Corps his basic training was received at Sheppard Field, TX, now an Air Force base He graduated from Radio Repair School in 1944 at Ft. Monmouth in New Jersey in Radio Repair, Aircraft Equipment as an Instrument Landing Repair specialist. Transferred to Robbins Field, Georgia awaiting assignment. Assigned to 3371h Air Service Group, 371st Engineering Squadron located at Bluethenthal Field at Wilmington, NC. In March, 1945, 337th was sent to Seattle, WA and sailed for Ie Shima in April. Ie is a small island about 2 miles wide and 4 miles long, located just a few miles off the coast of Okinawa. There were four air strips servicing primarily army, navy, and marine fighter aircraft. The island was air raided by the Japanese almost night1y resulting in many casualties and much damage. The war ended in August and in November the 337 was transferred to Kadena air field on Okinawa.

Ie's only claim to fame was that the famous WW II news correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed there. In addition, surrender envoys from Japan landed there on their way to meet with General McArthur in the Philippines to receive instructions on how the surrender was to proceed.

Calvin returned to the US as a sergeant and received his discharge in March, 1946, at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio.

Calvin returned to Wichita Falls after his discharge and worked for Sears Roebuck until entering Midwestern University in September, 1947. He attended college on the GI Bill and worked part time at Sears. He graduated from Midwestern in June, 1950 with a degree in business. He moved to Dallas in November, 1950 and has worked there ever since. He attended First Baptist Church in Dallas where he met Roberta Bums, a school teacher from Denver, CO. They were married in Denver in September, 1955 and returned to Dallas to live. They have three daughters and three grandsons. They are still members at First Baptist Church in Dallas.