Private First Class Douglas O. Nelson

Douglas O’Brien Nelson was born March 26, 1924 in Salt Lake City, Utah. His parents were Robert and Ruth Nelson. He was one of six children. He grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended East High School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Douglas O’Brien Nelson registered for the military on June 30, 1942. Douglas married Lola Arban on December 31, 1942. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on January 7, 1943. He was commissioned at Fort Douglas, Utah. His service number was 39906592.

Douglas O’Brien Nelson was a Private First Class, 853rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation onboard the British ship, HMT Robna, on November 26, 1943, when out of nowhere came 30 German bombers. The HMT Robna was transporting 2,000 American soldiers and it was part of a 24 ship convoy. The convoy was headed to the China-Burma-India Theater to support the allied war efforts against Japan. The attack killed 1,015 US soldiers. It is estimated that 300 men were killed on impact, and most of the remaining soldiers died either trying to get off the sinking ship or in the water waiting to be rescued. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident.

Information on the attack quickly became classified. The survivors were ordered not to talk or write home about the attack under a threat of court martial. Many of the families of the soldiers who went missing in action, did not receive word concerning the attack for six months.

Private First Class Douglas O’Brien Nelson would later be reported Killed In Action on November 27, 1943. He left behind his wife, Lola, and a new born son, Douglas O’Brien Nelson, Jr.

Private First Class Douglas O’Brien Nelson received a Purple Heart for his service. He has a memorial resting place in Arlington National Cemetery and his name is on the Tablets of the Missing at North Africa American Cemetery, Carthage, Tunisia.

“This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,00+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery.

“If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me at mjbezoldbarbian27@gmail.com.