--- title: "Raymond Nielsen" description: "D-Day, Normandy and Beyond veteran Raymond Nielsen shares his memories of WW2." url: "https://www.normandy1944.info/stories/raymond-nielsen" date: "2026-08-03T13:44:58+00:00" language: "en-GB" --- ![Raymond Nielsen](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/48/raymond-nielsen-002-48e8282f.jpg?src=images/veterans/americans/raymond_nielsen/raymond-nielsen-002.jpg&thumbnail=240,300,&hash=74ce4b71) # WW2 veteran Raymond Nielsen - American - Technical Sergeant - F Company, 17th Infantry - Leyte Island, Philippines - December 7, 1941 - Survived? Wounded but survived ![7th Infantry Division](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/a0/7th-infantry-division-a0ebe8ae.png?src=images/patches/7th-infantry-division.png&thumbnail=308,300,&hash=0e14867a) #### 7th Infantry Division ## Raymond's Attu Scrapbook TSGT Ray Nielsen enlisted in the Army in December of 1936. His Infantry was transferred to Fort Ord California in 1940 and he was a Drill Sergeant when the war broke out. He was wounded by shrapnel on the island of Leyte in the Phillipines in October of 1944. ### Battle of Leyte Leyte is most famous for its role in the reconquest of the Philippines in World War II. On 20 October 1944, General Douglas MacArthur waded ashore on Leyte, saying, "I have returned", but the Japanese did not give up so easily, as the ensuing Battle of Leyte proved. The convergence of naval forces resulted in the four-day Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history. ### Going home When he got back home Raymond was recuperating at Fort Carson in Colorado when he met up with his sister, my aunt, Betty Nielsen. He was discharged in May of 1945 and went on to become a college instructor at the Omaha Technical Community College for Automotive Mechanics. He passed away on 03 September 1996. Information provided by Edward A. Nielsen, his son --- ### 17th Infantry Regiment ### Campaign participation credit WW2 - Aleutian Islands (with arrowhead) - Eastern Mandates (with arrowhead) - Leyte - Ryukyus (with arrowhead) [](#) [](#) ###### Veteran's personal file ![DUI of the 17th Infantry Regiment part of the 7 Infantry Division](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/25/17th-infantry-Division-DUI-US-25a89a39.png?src=images/patches/17th-infantry-Division-DUI-US.png&thumbnail=250,256,&hash=51b72eab) DUI of the 17th Infantry Regiment part of the 7 Infantry Division The Crushed Beer Can --- Presidential Unit Citation ![Presidential Citation for Leyte](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/64/Presidential-citation-us-642d4ac3.png?src=images/patches/Presidential-citation-us.png&thumbnail=220,111,&hash=9f9f3e13)Presidential Citation for Leyte [](#) [](#) --- #### Veteran's death record - September 3,1996 The compilation and structure of this website are protected by copyright. The historical stories and personal accounts published here remain the sole intellectual property of the individuals who shared them. No content may be reproduced without prior permission from the webmaster. [ Add your story ](https://www.normandy1944.info/contact) --- Updated on: 26 August 2022 --- ###### Raymond Nielsen's personal photographs Click on a picture for enlargement --- [ ![7th Infantry Division](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/patches/7th-infantry-division.png)7th Infantry Division ](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/patches/7th-infantry-division.png) [ ![DUI of the 17th Infantry Regiment part of the 7 Infantry Division](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/patches/17th-infantry-Division-DUI-US.png)DUI of the 17th Infantry Regiment part of the 7 Infantry Division ](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/patches/17th-infantry-Division-DUI-US.png) [ ![Expert rifleman badge](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/patches/expert-rifleman-us.png)Expert rifleman badge ](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/patches/expert-rifleman-us.png) [ ![Landings at Attu](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/veterans/americans/raymond_nielsen/raymond-nielsen-003.jpg)Landings at Attu ](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/veterans/americans/raymond_nielsen/raymond-nielsen-003.jpg) [ ![People of the Philippines: I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil—soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples. We have come dedicated and committed to the task of destroying every vestige of enemy control over your daily lives, and of restoring upon a foundation of indestructible strength, the liberties of your people.](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/veterans/americans/raymond_nielsen/d-day-normandy-raymond-nielsen-General-Douglas-MacArthur.jpg)General Douglas MacArthur comes ashore ](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/veterans/americans/raymond_nielsen/d-day-normandy-raymond-nielsen-General-Douglas-MacArthur.jpg) [ ![Raymond and his sister Lt. Betty](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/veterans/americans/raymond_nielsen/raymond-nielsen-001.jpg)Raymond and his sister Lt. Betty ](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/veterans/americans/raymond_nielsen/raymond-nielsen-001.jpg) [ ![Reunion in Army Hospital](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/veterans/americans/raymond_nielsen/raymond-nielsen-004.jpg)Reunion in Army Hospital ](https://www.normandy1944.info/images/veterans/americans/raymond_nielsen/raymond-nielsen-004.jpg) Raymond Nielsen's personal medals ![Victory Medal](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/a8/us-victory-medal-a8bd8130.png?src=images/medals/american/us-victory-medal.png&thumbnail=185,257,&hash=e031acc7)Victory Medal ![Purple Heart](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/6b/Puruple-heart-6bf16084.png?src=images/medals/american/Puruple-heart.png&thumbnail=185,257,&hash=1b155726)Purple Heart ![Good Conduct](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/87/Good-conduct-87fe2231.png?src=images/medals/american/Good-conduct.png&thumbnail=185,257,&hash=a2dac2d9)Good Conduct ![Bronze Star](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/9e/us-bronze-star-9edf58df.png?src=images/medals/american/us-bronze-star.png&thumbnail=185,257,&hash=6fcb7022)Bronze Star ![Pacific Theatre](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/2d/Pacific-Theatre-of-Operations-2d7ba203.png?src=images/medals/american/Pacific-Theatre-of-Operations.png&thumbnail=185,257,&hash=3c40f5ef)Pacific Theatre ![American Service Medal](https://www.normandy1944.info/media/yootheme/cache/da/American-Service-Medal-da3fcfc4.png?src=images/medals/american/American-Service-Medal.png&thumbnail=185,257,&hash=5f783627)American Service Medal [](#) [](#) #### Cite this historical page I aim to provide accurate, open-access accurate historical records. 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