Notable Death of a Doolittle Raider

Chase J. Nelsen, a navigator on one of the B-25 bombers (Doolittle's Raiders) that launched from an aircraft carrier and raided Japan in 1942 died last Friday at the age of 90.  There are now only 14  members of this famed group still alive.   What is interesting about this man is after his B-25 dropped its bombs on Tokyo, it ran out of fuel and was ditched off of the coast of China.  He was captured by the Japanese and spent 3 years in a prisoner of war camp.  He survived (only 4 prisoners from the raid survived) and actually returned to China to give war crimes testimony within months after leaving his POW camp.  Another of the greatest generation passes.  This is one of the first World War II stories I remember hearing about.  My parents bought me a children's version of the Doolittle Raid and I just ate it up.  It wasn't too long before the book was worn out from my constant use.  Both of my parents were World War II era veterans - my father was in the Army in the South Pacific, and my mother was a Navy WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). In our house we were very aware of the heroics and sacrifices of this generations of Americans.

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Comments

[Tim Agazio]

Bill,

You worked with a true American hero. I agree with your comment about the promotion ladder. Many times the people who most deserve the promotions or key jobs never get them and we end up being stuck with something not quite as good...at least this was my experience in the Army.

Thanks for visiting and your comment.

Tim

[William B. Foulk]

I was fortunate enough to work for Major Nelsen at Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico 1958-61. He was a kind man who never got rattled or upset. I knew he would not go far up the promotion ladder; he was just to kind. I'm sorry to learn he is gone. Bill Foulk