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3rd Infantry Division inducts new Marne Hall of Fame

3rd Infantry Division

Oct. 18, 2022 | 1:17

The 3rd Infantry Division is proud to announce the next class of nine inductees to the Marne Hall of Fame, including 107-year-old Silver Star recipient Harold Nelson. The Marne Hall of Fame honors Dogface Soldiers who served in the Division and had a lasting impact on the 3rd Infantry Division, our Army and nation.
Marne Hall of Fame nominees are U.S. military members (Officers, Warrant Officers, Noncommissioned Officers, and Soldiers) of 3rd ID who have brought great honor to the division through deed, sacrifice, or achievement. The 2022 inductees to the Marne Hall of Fame are:
• Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe
• Capt. Michael Daly
• Staff Sgt. Harold Nelson
• Master Sgt. Juan Negron
• Capt. Arlo Olson
• Sgt. 1st Class Agustin Ramos Calero
• Pvt. Demensio Rivera
• Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith
• Maj. Gen. Keith Ware
The addition of this new class of Marne Hall of Fame inductees preserves the division's legacy by paying respect to past heroes and promoting the unit’s remarkable history. The 2022 Marne Hall of Fame and Distinguished Members of the Division class will be formally inducted at the 3rd ID Soldier’s Ball on Dec. 2.

Harold Nelson was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 14th, 1941, from Fort Crook, Nebraska. After training in the U.S., Nelson entered World War II with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd ID as part of Operation Torch in Morocco. Later in the African Campaign, he made another amphibious landing in Tunisia, leading to some 250,000 Axis soldiers surrendering. After the completion of the African Campaign, Nelson participated in Operation Husky (Sicily Campaign), making three amphibious landings and leading to the liberation of Sicily from the Axis forces. At the conclusion of Operation Husky, he made two more amphibious landings as part of Operation Avalanche (Salerno, Italy) and Operation Shingle (Anzio, Italy). Both operations were critical to defeating Axis forces and liberating Rome, Italy. After the liberation of Rome, Nelson earned enough points to return to the United States and complete his Army career as a first sergeant on June 23, 1945.

Nelson was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Arrowhead Device, Silver Service Star, and two Bronze Service Stars, the American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Purple Heart with a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Nelson was awarded the Bronze Star and Silver Star in June 2022 for his heroic actions during Operation Shingle (Anzio), where he single-handedly provided suppressive fire while his platoon flanked a fortified German position.