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Gary Nelson was never able to live his life and experience the Joys of living like those
of us who survived him, for he was cut off in the bloom of his youth when he was killed on June 4, 1966 at the
tender age of twenty-one, when he hit a trip wire of a land mine while on Patrol, in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam,
but Gary packed more living in his short life than most of us do during a long extended "tour" - He was
vivacious and loved life, and had many goals, one of which was to become a commercial pilot.
Gary was an only child, born Christmas Eve, 1944, the son of Shirley and Phillip Nelson of Glendale, California.
Gary attended Glendale schools, was the captain of his High School Water Polo Team for the year 1962 and
eventually graduated in 1963.
His desire was to return home and attend Glendale Junior College, which was never to be, but it was later reported in the Campus newspaper,
the "El Vaquero," that he was killed in Vietnam just weeks before coming home.
He was well liked by his classmates and friends, and I heard that he was loved by all
who knew him. Read the remarks
Gary's friend Craig Cook sent me, which defined Gary's life, since his closest friends knew him best.
I never knew Gary in life, but I knew him for over 32 years in death. I will explain...
In 1967, I came to know him in a very strange and "special" way. This "special"
way I have told and wish to share in greater detail in my "Trip for Healing." You can read it by clicking
on the Button below.
I am hoping some of his friends will come forward and give a detailed history of their experiences
with Gary. The above picture, his Senior Class Portrait, from the 1963 Stylus, the Glendale High School Year book,
was provided by George Mason, a former classmate of
Gary's. I wish to heartfully thank George for his desire to help me in this way, to create this Memorial to Gary,
so that he will never be forgotten.
As far as how and why I feel about Gary... Though I have never met him, I can only say that,
because of that strange connection to Gary, over the passing years of my mis-guided mourning of him, that I have
come to feel like I am his friend, and wish to nurture this friendship for the rest of my days. It is for
this reason that in 1996, I entered the Locked Garden of Honor in the Court of Freedom, at Forest Lawn Memorial
Park, in Glendale, California, and put a bouquet of flowers on his niche, and sat there in silence and in prayer,
talking to him and to God, and wishing him well. I also vowed then and there, that I would continue this
brotherhood till I, myself, am no longer in this world, and until the day that I will meet him in person,
in that sweet place where he continues his Life today. God bless you Gary Nelson, those of us who love you,
will never forget you.
Gary Nelson... this could have been me, or anyone in the 6th Grade,
but it was Gary. He had
all the same hopes and dreams as any other kid. He loved baseball, going swimming, and climbing trees, making tree
houses and playing dirt lot baseball, and tag football. He was, after all a real boy!
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