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Service Profile
- Branch
- U.S. Navy
- Rank
- Chief Machinist's Mate
- Medals Recorded
- 1
Awards & Decorations
Ribbon Rack
Biography
He risked his life in scalding steam to rescue his shipmates
Oscar Frederick Nelson was born on 5 November 1881 in Denmark and later moved with his family to Minnesota. He served as a machinist's mate first class in the United States Navy aboard USS Bennington.
On 21 July 1905, a boiler exploded aboard Bennington in San Diego harbor. Nelson demonstrated extraordinary heroism during the disaster, earning the Medal of Honor. The brief citation does not detail his individual rescue or emergency duties.
Nelson died on 26 September 1951 and is buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minnesota. His medal is held by Veterans' Memorial Hall in Duluth.
Medal of Honor citation
Serving on board the U.S.S. Bennington, for extraordinary heroism displayed at the time of the explosion of a boiler of that vessel at San Diego, Cal., 21 July 1905.
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