The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-11-28
CAPTAIN Of CO. H
KILLED IN ACTION
LEADER OF osKALooSA BOYS
FALLS ON THE FIELD.
0. B. NELSON OF OTTUMWA
Had Just Been Placed in Command
But Did Not Know of His Promo
ton For Bravery Before He
Was Killed.

OttumWa, Nov. T.-OScar B. Mel
son, captain of H Company, 16Sth In,
fantry, was mortally wounded in &C.
ton October II and died soon after
on the field.
News of the death of one of the
most popular and well beloved of the
old G boys is conveyed in numerous
letters just received by the families
of Ottumwa's own unit of the re-
nowned Rainbow division.
Most of the letters were censored
where reference to the name of the
dead hero was made, but sufficient
was left that with the popularity of
their old lieutenant knowry to the
reader, there was no mistaking the
name deleted.
Was Cited For Bravery.
No official word has been received
by the parents and brothers of the
gallant officer whose bravery if ac-
ton during the fighting northeast of
Chateau Thierry July 26 brought a
citation for his heroism from the
commander September %.
The only word the family has thus
far received is from the letters of the
admiring friends and former subordi-
mates of the dead officer in G Com
pany. The reference in all of these
breathes the ardent love they bore for
their former second officer. One let
ter hsa been received giving the date
and sufficient details to confirm the
reference made in the others that
were censored.
Unaware of His Promotion.
Captain Nelson died unaware that
he had been promted to a captaincy,
although he had been given charge of
H Company of Oskaloosa some ten
days earlier. His last letter home,
written October 7, made no reference
to his promotion nor to his connec-
ton with the Oskaloosa company.
G Boys Loved Him.
One of the letters received contains
the following:
I'VE lost one good man. Capt. o. B.
Nelson got killed. He was captain
of Company H and believe me the G
boys feel bad about it for everyone
thought so much of him"
Another boy of G Company writes
as follows:
They got the best man that ever
came over here to fight for his coun-
try, and he is (deleted by censor) of
H Company. There's man that
will never be forgotten by any of us
other men. It's sure tough to lose
men like him." Although the censor
erased the words, 1t is possible to
make out the name of Lieut.. o. B.
Nelson.
Still another letter in which the
reference to the death of Captain Mel
son was not censored, has the follow
ing:
Lieutenant Nelson was killed. Sure
do miss him as he was one good man
and liked by every man in G Com
pany."
Sixteen Years in G Company.
Oscar B. Nelson was 3S years old
April Is. He was a son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Jacob Nelson, 1905 West Second
street, and lived most of his life in
Ottunlwa where his friends were
legion. Besides the parents, three
brothers. Edward of Batavia, Lee of
Minneapolis, and Arthur of Washing
ton, D. c., survive him.
Captain Nelson entered the national
guard when % years of age, joining
G Company and in the sixteen years
he was a member of the local CON-
pany he had risen to first lieutenant.
He was second lieutenant when the
company left for the Mexican border
in 1916 and remained with the COM
pany throughout the border trouble.
He was active in the recruiting of G
Company to war strength when the
mobilization of troops was ordered
for the big world war and left here
as third officer of the company when
it went east.
Made First Lieutenant.
While on Governors Island await.
ing orders to embark for France, in
the reorganization of the regiment
and increasing of the size of the vari-
GUS companies, he was made first
lieutenant, the company having two
first lieutenants. the present Captain
Younkin and Captain Nelson, and six
other lieutenants were added to the
company before it began actual par.
ticipation in the war in France.
! Early in October he was given COM
mand of the Oskaloosa company but
1T is stated in letter from overseas,
that he was not aware of his eleva-