Private Nelson was a member of the 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 22 September 1950 and returned to duty on 12 November 1950. He was taken Prisoner of War while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 28 November 1950 and died while a prisoner on 28 February 1951.

Nelson was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.