“Once a Marine, always a Marine,” said the 59-year-old rural Manson native.

A graduate of Manson High School, Nelson enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in February 1982. He completed basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego and continued his training at Camp Pendleton, California.

“My first duty station was 7th Motors Transportation Co., 1st Force Service Support Group, at Camp Pendleton. I wanted to be a diesel mechanic, but I ended up as a truck driver instead,” said Nelson. “No regrets. It was good duty. I was qualified to drive every vehicle the Marine Corps had at the time.”

While at Camp Pendleton, he married Patty (Grady) in December 1983. The couple’s June wedding plans were delayed when the barracks was bombed in Beirut.

-Submitted photo
Randy Nelson sits on an M123 tank mover in this photo from his time serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa, Japan, in 1985.

It wouldn’t be the last time the military came before family. In June 1985, Nelson was transferred to Okinawa, Japan, for a yearlong tour with the 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.

“It was mandatory that we go overseas one year out of every four,” Nelson said, “so I knew it was coming.”

At the time, Patty Nelson was three months pregnant with the couple’s first child. With no internet or Skype yet available, he didn’t learn of his oldest daughter’s birth until three days after she was born.

In Okinawa, Nelson operated an M123. Twice the size of a regular truck, these 10-ton tractors were used to transport tanks and Amtracs.

While there, his unit received another assignment.

“We were sent to keep the peace when Marcos (then president of the Philippines) was thrown out of the country,” Nelson said.

Ferdinand Marcos, who Nelson characterized as more of a dictator, was exiled to Honolulu.

“He raped the Philippines of millions of dollars.,” Nelson said. “His wife had 8,000 pairs of shoes when they cleaned the palace out.”

Though there was rioting, Nelson never felt he was in danger.

“The Filipinos loved us,” he said.

Overall, Nelson enjoyed his time overseas, which allowed him to see much of Asia, including Korea and Thailand. He especially enjoyed experiencing the history of Okinawa firsthand, receiving a special tour of the island from Maj. Gen. James Day, who would receive the Medal of Honor in 1998 for his heroic actions in Okinawa during World War II.

Upon returning to the U.S. in June 1986, Nelson spent about 30 days with his family to get reacclimated. He still gets emotional when he recalls meeting his daughter, Kory, for the first time at 6 months old.

“That was pretty amazing,” he said, his eyes glistening, “meeting your first child and she’s already (grown),” gesturing with his hands how big she was. “Her first tooth came in the day we got home. We were sitting on the porch swing when she bit my finger.”

That same year, Nelson re-enlisted for another four years, moving back to El Toro, California, and living in Santa Ana, where their second daughter was eventually born in May 1988. His next four years of service with the 3rd Marine Air Wing involved repeated desert training in Yuma, Arizona, and 29 Palms, California.

“When I went to El Toro, I became an aircraft refueler,” Nelson said.

Once he was involved in helping refuel the Air Force One for then-President Ronald Reagan.

“We’d gotten out of desert training and went to fuel the Air Force One, and it puked out a bunch of sand into his aircraft,” Nelson said.

His unit was nervous about the impact the sand might have on the president’s plane, but the crew chief assured them, “Don’t worry about it; we change the filters every time we fly.”

Over the years, Nelson rose through the ranks, eventually becoming an E5 sergeant. In all, he served eight years and four months. At that point, he and his wife decided to return to the Midwest to raise their family.

“I liked (the service),” Nelson said, “but it wasn’t a place to raise your family.”

Shortly after he was discharged in June 1990, Operation Desert Shield began. That evolved into Operation Desert Storm as the United States liberated Kuwait from Iraq. For Nelson, this was a difficult time, having gone through the same training as his comrades, but not being able to serve.

“I tried to get back in (the service) and they wouldn’t let me back in,” he said. “I was watching my fellow Marines in Baghdad playing volleyball, and I never got to go.”

Since then, Nelson has continued serving the government as a U.S. Postal Service truck driver, including 27 years in Omaha. He currently serves as a USPS carrier for Rockwell City, with plans to retire in March.

The Nelsons have three grown daughters, Kory, Lisa and Nikki, and four grandchildren.

In retirement, Nelson plans to open his side business, Machine Shed Classics, full-time, restoring everything from Chevys to tractors.

“There’s nothing I won’t restore,” he said.

As a member of the Mid-Iowa Marine Corps League, he still keeps in touch with other Marines and is looking forward to their annual Birthday Ball, which celebrates the Marine Corps’ birthday on Nov. 10. This year, the ball is set for Nov. 19 in Fort Dodge. Nelson is also treasurer for the Manson American Legion Post 204, which is raising funds to establish a memorial park in Manson.

More than 30 years after leaving the service, Nelson said he still misses the Marine Corps culture.

“It’s just good fond memories of being with a group of people that got along because everybody looked out for everyone else,” he said.