2. Personal Remembrances

87th Signal Company - In Honor of John S. Nelson II

John S. Nelson II was an officer in the 87th Signal Company, responsible for the 87th Signal Company photos.

His son, John III, also has censor's proofs of many combat and operations photos.
He also has some interesting memorabilia...a section of communications cable they removed from behind enemy lines along the Siegfried line, a waffen ss sword that he believes came from Buchenwald.

Per Mr. Nelson's son:
"Friends,
I have gone to Buchenwald each of the past two years - along with Koblenz, Bastogne, etc - trying to figure out where they really were.
The written records are incomplete and contradictory.

My dad died long ago after a tough life. It would be most helpful to find someone who knew him.

I went to the 2003 reunion courtesy of Gladwin but no one there knew anyone from the 87th Signal Company.
It also seemed like these were mostly enlisted men and the officers were - well, officers and separate.

So I could really use some actual details, like how did they get to Buchenwald to take the photo in this gallery I submitted to you.
Can anyone help?

Not many of my materials are scanned as they are in a scrapbook that I have been reluctant to disassemble.
But I could if they would be of real value.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give."

John S. Nelson III
Son of John S. Nelson II; 87th Signal company

Update - June-2007
Notice to Mr. Nelson III,
Please contact me - I have lost your email address! - The 87th Association and many others are requesting to contact you with questions and info.
Please place email here under comment, or email me -
My email can be found on the 87th Infantry Division Associatioin web page:
http://www.87thinfantrydivision.com

Thank you so much.
Debra H. - gallery moderator
Read More
Someone entering the main prisoners gate at Buchenwald, <br /> the concentration camp, on liberation day in April 1945.<br /> <br /> John S. Nelson II was an officer in the 87th Signal Company, responsible for the 87th Signal Company photos.<br /> <br /> His son, John III, also has censor's proofs of many combat and operations photos. <br /> He also has some interesting memorabilia...a section of communications cable they removed from behind enemy lines along the Siegfried line, <br /> and a waffen ss sword that he believes came from Buchenwald. <br /> <br /> Per Mr. Nelson's son:<br /> "Friends,<br /> I have gone to Buchenwald each of the past two years - along with Koblenz, Bastogne, etc - trying to figure out where they really were. <br /> The written records are incomplete and contradictory. <br /> <br /> My dad died long ago after a tough life. It would be most helpful to find someone who knew him. <br /> <br /> I went to the 2003 reunion courtesy of Gladwin but no one there knew anyone from the 87th Signal Company. <br /> It also seemed like these were mostly enlisted men and the officers were - well, officers and separate.<br /> <br /> So I could really use some actual details, like how did they get to Buchenwald to take this photo? <br /> Can anyone help?<br /> <br /> Not many of my materials are scanned as they are in a scrapbook that I have been reluctant to disassemble. <br /> But I could if they would be of real value.<br /> <br /> Thanks in advance for any advice you can give."<br /> <br /> John S. Nelson III<br /> Son of John S. Nelson II; 87th Signal Company<br /> <br /> Update - June-2007<br /> Notice to Mr. Nelson III,<br /> Please contact me - I have lost your email address! - The 87th Association and many others are requesting to contact you with questions and info. <br /> Please place email here under comment, or email me - <br /> My email can be found on the 87th Infantry Division Associatioin web page:<br /> <a href="http://www.87thinfantrydivision.com">http://www.87thinfantrydivision.com</a><br /> <br /> Thank you so much.<br /> Debra H. - gallery moderator
2 / 2

Someone entering the main prisoners gate at Buchenwald,
the concentration camp, on liberation day in April 1945.

John S. Nelson II was an officer in the 87th Signal Company, responsible for the 87th Signal Company photos.

His son, John III, also has censor's proofs of many combat and operations photos.
He also has some interesting memorabilia...a section of communications cable they removed from behind enemy lines along the Siegfried line,
and a waffen ss sword that he believes came from Buchenwald.

Per Mr. Nelson's son:
"Friends,
I have gone to Buchenwald each of the past two years - along with Koblenz, Bastogne, etc - trying to figure out where they really were.
The written records are incomplete and contradictory.

My dad died long ago after a tough life. It would be most helpful to find someone who knew him.

I went to the 2003 reunion courtesy of Gladwin but no one there knew anyone from the 87th Signal Company.
It also seemed like these were mostly enlisted men and the officers were - well, officers and separate.

So I could really use some actual details, like how did they get to Buchenwald to take this photo?
Can anyone help?

Not many of my materials are scanned as they are in a scrapbook that I have been reluctant to disassemble.
But I could if they would be of real value.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give."

John S. Nelson III
Son of John S. Nelson II; 87th Signal Company

Update - June-2007
Notice to Mr. Nelson III,
Please contact me - I have lost your email address! - The 87th Association and many others are requesting to contact you with questions and info.
Please place email here under comment, or email me -
My email can be found on the 87th Infantry Division Associatioin web page:
http://www.87thinfantrydivision.com

Thank you so much.
Debra H. - gallery moderator

Buchenwald concentration campPOW camp

  • 87th Signal Company - 87th Infantry Division - WWII <br /> <br /> John S. Nelson II was an officer in the 87th Signal Company, responsible for the 87th Signal Company photos.<br /> <br /> Per his son, "He's the big guy in the center of the first row (seated)."<br /> <br /> His son, John III, also has censor's proofs of many combat and operations photos. <br /> <br /> He also has some interesting memorabilia...<br /> a section of communications cable they removed from behind enemy lines along the Siegfried line, <br /> and a waffen ss sword that he believes came from Buchenwald. <br /> <br /> Per Mr. Nelson's son:<br /> "Friends, <br /> I have gone to Buchenwald each of the past two years - along with Koblenz, Bastogne, etc - trying to figure out where they really were. <br /> The written records are incomplete and contradictory. <br /> <br /> My dad died long ago after a tough life. <br /> <br /> It would be most helpful to find someone who knew him. <br /> <br /> I went to the 2003 reunion courtesy of Gladwin but no one there knew anyone from the 87th Signal Company. <br /> It also seemed like these were mostly enlisted men and the officers were - well, officers and separate.<br /> <br /> So I could really use some actual details, like how did they get to Buchenwald to take the other photo in this gallery of someone entering the main prisoners gate at Buchenwald, <br /> the concentration camp, on liberation day in April 1945?<br /> <br /> Can anyone help?<br /> <br /> Not many of my materials are scanned as they are in a scrapbook that I have been reluctant to disassemble. <br /> But I could if they would be of real value.<br /> <br /> Thanks in advance for any advice you can give."<br /> <br /> John S. Nelson III<br /> Son of John S. Nelson II; 87th Signal Company<br /> <br /> Update - June-2007<br /> Notice to Mr. Nelson III,<br /> Please contact me - I have lost your email address! - The 87th Association and many others are requesting to contact you with questions and info. <br /> Please place email here under comment, or email me - <br /> My email can be found on the 87th Infantry Division Associatioin web page:<br /> <a href="http://www.87thinfantrydivision.com">http://www.87thinfantrydivision.com</a><br /> <br /> Thank you so much.<br /> Debra H. - gallery moderator
  • Someone entering the main prisoners gate at Buchenwald, <br /> the concentration camp, on liberation day in April 1945.<br /> <br /> John S. Nelson II was an officer in the 87th Signal Company, responsible for the 87th Signal Company photos.<br /> <br /> His son, John III, also has censor's proofs of many combat and operations photos. <br /> He also has some interesting memorabilia...a section of communications cable they removed from behind enemy lines along the Siegfried line, <br /> and a waffen ss sword that he believes came from Buchenwald. <br /> <br /> Per Mr. Nelson's son:<br /> "Friends,<br /> I have gone to Buchenwald each of the past two years - along with Koblenz, Bastogne, etc - trying to figure out where they really were. <br /> The written records are incomplete and contradictory. <br /> <br /> My dad died long ago after a tough life. It would be most helpful to find someone who knew him. <br /> <br /> I went to the 2003 reunion courtesy of Gladwin but no one there knew anyone from the 87th Signal Company. <br /> It also seemed like these were mostly enlisted men and the officers were - well, officers and separate.<br /> <br /> So I could really use some actual details, like how did they get to Buchenwald to take this photo? <br /> Can anyone help?<br /> <br /> Not many of my materials are scanned as they are in a scrapbook that I have been reluctant to disassemble. <br /> But I could if they would be of real value.<br /> <br /> Thanks in advance for any advice you can give."<br /> <br /> John S. Nelson III<br /> Son of John S. Nelson II; 87th Signal Company<br /> <br /> Update - June-2007<br /> Notice to Mr. Nelson III,<br /> Please contact me - I have lost your email address! - The 87th Association and many others are requesting to contact you with questions and info. <br /> Please place email here under comment, or email me - <br /> My email can be found on the 87th Infantry Division Associatioin web page:<br /> <a href="http://www.87thinfantrydivision.com">http://www.87thinfantrydivision.com</a><br /> <br /> Thank you so much.<br /> Debra H. - gallery moderator

  • Guest

    on April 24, 2007

    Dear John S. Nelson III,

    My father, David C. Evans, served in the 87th Infantry as a radioman and infantry scout. He too described entering Buchenwald and assisting with the liberation. We have a watercolor painting one of the prisoners gave him along with signatures and notes from several other grateful released prisoners. This is framed on my mom's wall. (Dad passed away a few years ago.) I have wondered as you have how he came to be in Buchenwald, as the histories I have read about the 87th do not mention it! Have you learned anything new on this? I was glad to see your father's photo of the same place and time my father had described to me.

    Sincerely,

    Douglas F. Evans
    devans@drivesafety.com

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