We are sure most of you are aware of the tragic loss of the crew of 6505. What we have just recently learned was that among those lost was an "Old Bear." More below... The “OLD BEARS” regret to report that we recently lost one of our own. U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue crews suspended the search for CDR Thomas Nelson, 42, of Staten Island, NY. CDR Nelson went missing on 4 September 2008, after his HH-65C helicopter crashed with three other crewmembers aboard during a training flight off the south shore of Oahu. The three crewmembers were recovered Thursday evening and pronounced dead at The Queen’s Medical Center. CDR Nelson remains missing.
CDR Nelson reported to Air Station Barbers Point in July 2007 as the Executive Officer. He was a member of the Coast Guard Academy Class of 1988 and played close defense for the Coast Guard Academy Lacrosse Team. Teammate and classmate CDR Nick Bartolotta remarked “he loved to poke at people with the long stick, and damn, could he clear the crease.”
CDR Tom Nelson most recently served as the Deputy Office Chief, Office of Security and Defense Operations, at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington DC, from July 2004 to June 2007. There he helped lead a 29 member staff and 15 liaison officers coordinating national homeland security policy, budget, and programming. During this assignment CDR Nelson was directly involved with improving the Nation’s abilities to prevent and respond to the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction by terrorists.
CDR Nelson reported to Air Station Barbers Point in July 2007 as the Executive Officer. He was a member of the Coast Guard Academy Class of 1988 and played close defense for the Coast Guard Academy Lacrosse Team. Teammate and classmate CDR Nick Bartolotta remarked “he loved to poke at people with the long stick, and damn, could he clear the crease.”
CDR Tom Nelson most recently served as the Deputy Office Chief, Office of Security and Defense Operations, at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington DC, from July 2004 to June 2007. There he helped lead a 29 member staff and 15 liaison officers coordinating national homeland security policy, budget, and programming. During this assignment CDR Nelson was directly involved with improving the Nation’s abilities to prevent and respond to the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction by terrorists.
Prior to his assignment to headquarters, CDR Nelson attended the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he earned a Master of Arts and Science in Military History in 2004. His previous assignments include Air Stations Brooklyn, New York; Port Angeles, Washington; and New Orleans, Louisiana; where he served in various department head and division officer positions while fulfilling his primary role as a duty standing, deploying aviator in the HH-65 helicopter. CDR Nelson also served as a Deck Watch Officer aboard USCGC BASSWOOD (WLB-388) home ported in Guam.
CDR Nelson’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and various other team and unit awards.
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