At only 18 years old, Dr. Edgar Nelson, then just Edgar Nelson, had freshly graduated high school and begun his military career.

Coming from a large family with a total of 12 siblings, he mentioned his parents were pretty strict so it was good to get away and go somewhere new. Military was a good opportunity to get some college money and collect some experience. 

“You first go to basic training and then you do what’s called advanced individual training, and then I went to Fort Knox, Ky.” Nelson said. While being trained as a soldier, Nelson received special training and experience working with tanks.

After his training, Nelson was sent overseas to Germany.

“I loved being in Germany, it’s pretty cool. I got to go to Germany in 1988. I was on the East German side. And then I was there when the [Berlin] Wall came down between West and East Germany.” 

Nelson was over there during a really interesting time. “I went to the first Gulf War in Iraq,” he said.

Nelson explains that he never once regretted going into the military, and his own son is in the military too. “In fact my son is in the Air Force, and my youngest son is going into the army.”

Nelson also explains that he still has some contact with people that he met in the military over Facebook. “What happens when you go in, people are from all over the country and so you know it’s rare if you kind of meet somebody that is from your own home town.”

One thing about being in the military is that you are able to witness changes in real time. “Essentially, history was literally changing and I was there and it was cool.” Nelson said. By being there, he saw history change right in front of his face. 

Going into the military can be a difficult decision to make, but Nelson would recommend going into the military for anyone.   “I would say that you really have to want to do it because, well, it’s not very easy and there is a lot of suffering involved,” Nelson said.