When the Nelson family got the letter, they could see right through it.
As the words began to drift off the page in a scribbled manner, Clarence “Lightning” Nelson knew he would probably never see his brother alive again.
“We knew then,” Clarence said. “He ain’t OK. Even though he assured us that he was fine, we knew...”
Howard Hamilton Nelson wrote letters to his family and his wife Judy as he struggled inside a field hospital in Vietnam. He was recovering from a sudden surgery after stepping on a booby trap.
As the letters began to make their way home, Howard died.
Howard Hamilton Nelson was a country boy who loved to laugh, tend to cows and let off a little steam in a fast car.
But he was and is a hero; a young man who joined the military in uncertain times because “it was the right thing to do.”
He is one of Yazoo’s boys who quickly became men in the jungles of Vietnam.
We were like most country boys...
Howard Hamilton Nelson was born on March 28, 1949 to Hazel Hamilton and Carrie Bell Howard Nelson in rural Yazoo County.
He and his brother Clarence could usually be found outside, roaming the hills of the country or doing what work was needed on the family homeplace.
“We grew up the hard way, working,” Clarence said, with a laugh. “We were working in the hay field by the time we were seven or eight years old.”
Judy Logan Nelson Bowman, Howard’s widow, said he loved to be outside.
“His mom and dad raised cows and other farm animals and grew a vegetable garden,” Judy said. “So, a lot of time, he spent it baling hay for the animals.”
The Nelsons were known for having a pretty large garden.
“And we were always hunting cows that got out,” Clarence said.
Hogs and cattle kept the Nelson boys busy. But there was always time for a little fun.
“He used to love spending the night, camping at the pond with his friends,” Judy said. “He enjoyed doing anything that let him be outside.”
“Howard and I had what they called flattop haircuts back then,” Clarence added. “The good thing about those was that we could sneak off and go swimming. Momma and Daddy never could tell cause the water just rolled off.”
Howard also loved to ride horses. In fact, most of the children in the area would head over to the Nelson house to ride horses together.
And then there were the cars....
Howard would soon find another mode of transportation as he got older.
The Nelson boys were known for their fast cars, Mustangs actually.
“We both had Mustangs,” Clarence said. “I think I may have had the first one in Yazoo City, a yellow one.”
Sometimes Howard would settle for just about anything, as long as it ran.
“He took this old car once, and took everything off of it,” Clarence said. “There was nothing on it but a dash after he got done with it. It was just four tires and a motor. But he would have fun it, just like any typical teenager.”
Laughter, radios and the Piggly Wiggly
Howard was a kidder, a joker. He loved to laugh.
“He loved to laugh so he always watched comedy on television,” Judy said. “One of his favorite television shows was Hee Haw because it always made him laugh.”
Howard loved to listen to country music on the radio.
And when he wasn’t on the family farm or at school, he could be found at the Piggly Wiggly in Yazoo City on Grand Avenue. He worked there after school most days.
All eyes on the mail...
Howard attended Holmes Community College and Perkingston Junior College in Wiggins. He would marry Judy and begin his own family.
But as Howard went through his days, Vietnam and the war that brewed in her jungles began becoming a part of life.
“Like everyone else, all eyes were always on the mail,” Judy said. “And just like everyone else, he got his draft notice.”
However, Howard decided to join the United State Army instead of being drafted. Like many of his friends, he stepped up.
“He did what he had to do,” Clarence said. “He didn’t dodge it like so many others did. But our family hated it. Our folks felt that he would never come home alive.”
Judy said Howard hoped that he wouldn’t have to head to Vietnam immediately.
He headed to Fort Polk, La. for basic training. But medical reasons prevented him from pursuing helicopter training at Fort Wolters, Texas.
Howard enlisted as an Armor Intelligence Specialist with the 5th Infantry Division.
He began his tour in Vietnam on Aug. 15, 1970.
Ten months later, he was walking the jungles of Quang Tri Province in South Vietnam.
In June of 1971, Howard stepped on a booby trap that exploded. He was taken to a field hospital in Vietnam for surgery.
As he remained there, Howard began to write his parents, his brother and Judy, assuring them that he was not seriously injured.
Clarence said he remembers the letter. He said he could tell his brother was not as fine as he made out in his letter.
Officials began to ask Howard if they should notify his family about his injuries and if anything happened.
“He told them that he was not injured that bad,” Judy recalls. “He didn’t want to worry us.”
Howard died on June 19, 1971 of a pulmonary embolism. He was 22 years old.
Howard is survived by a son, Howard Hamilton Nelson Jr.; and three grandchildren, Logan, Anne Miller and Mary Lauren Nelson.
Howard's name is included on The Moving Wall, located at Panel 3W, Row 82. His name and family continues. And his memory, his dedication to his country and his life serve as a reminder of a true hero.
A hero isn’t always a man who boasts of conquests, has songs written about him or lives on in legends.
Sometimes the best heroes are country boys who chase runaway cows, bale hay, rig cars and laugh like there is no tomorrow.
