When Craig Nelson was in kindergarten, his teacher called to thank his mother for the nice wooden spoon he brought to school. He had wrapped it up and given it to her so his mother would not have it to pop him with. He was always playing jokes. He was the life of the party. He died of injuries suffered in a Dec. 16 explosion in Baghdad. His friend and high school classmate, Spc. Ryan Jacobsen, helped administer first aid after the explosion. Nelson was a dedicated soldier who said he would volunteer with another unit if he weren't mobilized. But he didn't stop his hijinks after joining the Army. He once showed up at a farewell for his former platoon leader in a silver Elvis jumpsuit, wig and sideburns. He was the type of person that could tell if you were down, and would do whatever it took to make you happy again. Hewas preceded in death by his father, Gene C. Nelson; his grandparents, B.D. and Florence Burney and E. Bryant Nelson; and his stepgrandfather, Jake Wall. Surviving are his mother, Lois; sister Carly, both of Bossier City; and grandmother Pansy Nelson Wall of Winston-Salem, N.C. He was 21.
Army
National Guard
1st Battalion
156th Armor Regiment
Shreveport, Louisiana
Army
National Guard
1st Battalion
156th Armor Regiment
Shreveport, Louisiana
When Craig Nelson was in kindergarten, his teacher called to thank his mother for the nice wooden spoon he brought to school. He had wrapped it up and given it to her so his mother would not have it to pop him with. He was always playing jokes. He was the life of the party. He died of injuries suffered in a Dec. 16 explosion in Baghdad. His friend and high school classmate, Spc. Ryan Jacobsen, helped administer first aid after the explosion. Nelson was a dedicated soldier who said he would volunteer with another unit if he weren't mobilized. But he didn't stop his hijinks after joining the Army. He once showed up at a farewell for his former platoon leader in a silver Elvis jumpsuit, wig and sideburns. He was the type of person that could tell if you were down, and would do whatever it took to make you happy again. Hewas preceded in death by his father, Gene C. Nelson; his grandparents, B.D. and Florence Burney and E. Bryant Nelson; and his stepgrandfather, Jake Wall. Surviving are his mother, Lois; sister Carly, both of Bossier City; and grandmother Pansy Nelson Wall of Winston-Salem, N.C. He was 21.
Army
National Guard
1st Battalion
156th Armor Regiment
Shreveport, Louisiana
Army
National Guard
1st Battalion
156th Armor Regiment
Shreveport, Louisiana
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