Thomas S. Nelson

Commander Thomas S. Nelson, U.S. Navy, Ret. was born on May 27, 1940, in Elmira, New York. He enlisted in the Navy upon his graduation from Lycoming College, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1963. After one year as an enlisted data processor, he was commissioned an Ensign upon completion of Officer Candidate School at Newport, Rhode Island, in June 1964. His commissioned service started with a tour of duty aboard USS FLOYD B. PARKS DD 884 as the Gunnery Officer. He volunteered for Underwater Demolition/Seal Team Training in 1965. He served with UDT 12; SEAL Team 1; UDT 11: Naval Advisory Group, USMACV; and Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, where he earned a Masters Degree in Management and Computer Technology; Commanding Officer, Inshore Undersea Warfare Group 2; NCSC Special Warfare Training; Commanding Officer UDT 12/redesignated Seal Delivery Team 1; Chief Staff Office, Naval Special Warfare Group One where he retired in 1986. During his tours with Naval Special Warfare, he was deployed on numerous occasions to Southeast Asia in such capabilities as UDT Platoon Commander, Detachment Officer in Charge; Seal Platoon Commander; Senior Advisor to the CIA paramilitary Provincial Reconnaissance Units of the Vietnam Forth Military Region; Executive Officer, UDT 11; Senior Advisor of the Vietnamese Seal Units, LDNN, until the American withdrawal in the spring of 1973. Commander Nelson holds the Bronze Star with Combat \"V\"; Meritorious Service Medal; Joint Services Commendation with Combat \"V\"; Four Navy Commendation Medals with Combat \"V\"s; Navy Achievement Medal; Two Presidential Unit Citations; Three Navy Unit Citations: one Meritorious Unit Citation; Vietnam Gallantry Cross; and Two Vietnamese Honor Medals.