A veteran, a medal and more or sands of Iwo Jima again
In the afternoon of Veterans Day, Raymond “Gene” Nelson, Jr. was recognized at his home on Johnson Street by the Maine Grand Lodge of Masons and by Monument Lodge.
N. James Coolong, Past Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Maine, presented Nelson his 50 year Veteran’s Medal awarded by the Grand Lodge. Nelson was raised a Master Mason on April 16, 1958 by then Master Norman Rogerson. Nelson’s father, Raymond E. Nelson, was a member of Hermon Lodge No. 32 in Gardiner.
Richard Rhoda, current Master of Monument Lodge, presented Nelson with something he had not seen for over 63 years, sands of Iwo Jima. The sands, actually small particles of volcanic ash, had been retrieved from Iwo Jima last year by Prof. Andrew Giles of the University of Maine at Presque Isle. His gracious gift made some available which was used for this special presentation.
This presentation was made on behalf of the lodge and its younger members as a token of their appreciation and respect for the sacrifices made by Nelson and his peers, ‘The Greatest Generation.” A moment of silence was observed for all of those no longer with us.
Rhoda commented that he and they had made possible the freedom and liberties we still enjoy today. He observed that Masonic lodges in Germany were one of the first groups suppressed by Hitler’s Nazi regime for expressing the equality of all men.
Nelson said he was a private in the Fleet Marine Force, 2nd Platoon, Company A, 21st Regiment of the Third Marine Division. He saw his first combat on the second day of the battle for Iwo Jima and remained there for twenty eight days. He went on to serve one year as part of the occupational force in China following World War II. He received an Honorable Discharge in March, 1947 having obtained the rank of Corporal.
Nelson was born in Oakfield at his grandfather’s farmhouse before his family moved to Gardiner when he was three months old. He reminisced that his 12 weeks in Marine Boot Camp “was one of the toughest periods of my life”.
Upon his return home, he attended Ricker College under the G.I. Bill and graduated with a degree in business. Here he met Jeannette Bates who became the love of his life and his wife for the past 60 years. They have four sons, Daniel, Gary, Mark and Matthew.
Nelson served as the first business manager for the Northern Maine Vocational School in Presque Isle and later in the same position for Ricker College. He concluded his working career as business manager for Houlton International for 19 years.
Nelson was Exalted Ruler of the Houlton Lodge of Elks in 1963 when the lodge won the State Elks Ritual Contest and finished third in the nationals in Miami. He then served as coach for the ritual team as they won many state and national awards over the next few years.
Rhoda concluded the presentation with “All we can say on this Veterans Day is ‘Thanks Gene, God Bless’.”
