Owen Nilsen
| Date and Place of Birth: | circa 1923 Brooklyn, NY |
| Date and Place of Death: | March 6, 1945 Iwo Jima |
| Baseball Experience: | Amateur |
| Position: | Catcher |
| Rank: | Corporal |
| Military Unit: | 4th Marine Division USMC |
| Area Served: | Pacific Theater of Operations |
Owen D. Nilsen, son of Ingolf and Minna Nilsen, was born in Brooklyn
and lived in Springfield Gardens, New York, in 1923. A student at Andrew
Jackson High School, Nilsen was a catcher for the St. Albans Americans
of the Queens Alliance League.
After graduating from high school in June 1941, Nilsen worked for the
Phoenix-London Insurance Company and played for their basketball team.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps on October 26, 1942, at the Marine
Recruiting Office in New York, and was sworn in alongside movie actor
Sterling Hayden.
Nilsen served as an instructor on the rifle range at Parris Island,
South Carolina. He was transferred to Camp Pendleton, california, before
going overseas in January 1944 with the 4th Marine Division.
Corporal Nilsen took part as a reconnaisanceman in the invasions of
Saipan, Tinian, Roi and Namur. He was awarded the Silver Star for
conspicuous gallantry at Iwo Jima on February 17, 1945, but was killed
in action on March 6, aged 22.
His Silver Star citation read:
"The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting
the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Owen D. Nilsen (MCSN:
473714), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry
and and intrepidity as a Member of an Advanced Reconnaissance Team
serving with the FOURTH Marine Division, in action against enemy
Japanese forces off the coast of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 17
February 1945 [two days before the amphibious landings]. Assigned the
hazardous mission of obtaining information concerning landing beaches
and shore installations, Corporal Nilsen unhesitatingly set about the
task in the face of withering barrages of hostile artillery and
automatic weapons fire and, boldly carrying out the reconnaissance
despite grave hazards, succeeded in gaining valuable data and
information of the landing beaches which aided materially in saving the
lives of other Marines during the assault landing. By his determined
perseverance, cool courage and outstanding ability, Corporal Nilsen
contributed immeasurably to the success of his team in the fulfillment
of an important mission."
Initially buried at Iwo Jima, his remains were returned home in October
1948, and funeral Services were held at the Lawrence D. Rouse Funeral
Home in St. Albans. The Rev. J. St. Clair Bousum of Bethany Lutheran
Church, Springfield Gardens, officiated, followed by burial at the
Evergreens Cemetery in Brooklyn.His name is incribed on the Veterans
Square Memorial in Queens.
Owen Nilsen (left) being sworn in to the Marine Corps alongside movie actor Sterling Hayden
Sources:
Buffalo Courier-Express, October 27, 1942
Long Island Daily Press, April 4, 1945
Date Added: February 8, 2014
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