Col. Paul H. Nelson Usa, Ret.

LAFAYETTE, COLO. - Paul H. Nelson, Col. USA (Ret.), 57, a former resident of Racine, died instantly on Wednesday, March 1, 2006, as a result of a skiing accident at Breckenridge, Colo. Paul was born on January 7, 1949, in Racine, the fourth of five children of Viggo and Mildred (nee: Hansen) Nelson. On January 29, 1972, he married Mary Farrell in Cincinnati, Ohio. Paul graduated from Horlick High School in 1967. While at Horlick, he lettered in both football and wrestling. Paul graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1971 and subsequently received his Master's Degree from the Naval Post-Graduate School. Colonel Nelson was a renowned leader, who was deeply respected by subordinates, peers, and superiors alike. He was known as a soldier-diplomat and a gifted linguist. Paul served in very demanding assignments during the Cold War, which were of critical importance to United States national security interests. Early in his career, he was assigned to the United States Military Liaison Mission (USMLM), where he served as a Liaison Officer to Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSFG). As a member of this elite unit, he often participated in high-risk travel throughout Soviet-occupied East Germany. Concurrent with the fall of the Soviet Union, he served as United States Army attach‚ in Moscow. Toward the end of his career, Colonel Nelson held the prestigious position of Chief of Staff of the On-Site Inspection Agency (OSIA). In that capacity, he oversaw the complete elimination of all intermediate range nuclear weapons in the United States and former Soviet Union in fulfillment of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in the implementation of the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START). Colonel Nelson was a man of action, a decisive leader, and a patriot, who placed the health and welfare of his soldiers above all else. He was a three-time recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal and a two-time recipient of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He retired from active duty in 1997. Following his career in the United States Army, Paul was a Director at Sun Microsystems Incorporated in Broomfield, Colo., until his retirement in 2005. His role at Sun was to provide operational control and leadership to the $350 million revenue business known as Sun Educational Services (SES). Paul's cultural acuity, linguistic prowess, and diplomatic skills served him well as he managed the global operational environment for up to 3,000 employees and 60,000 customers annually. As a direct result of Paul's leadership, SES grew to be the fifth largest technology training business in the world. He was a member of the Defense Language Institute (DLI) Advisory Council and the University of California Consortium for Language Learning and Training. Paul is survived by his wife, Mary (nee: Farrell) Nelson; his two daughters, Sabine Scanlon of Thornton, Colo. and Sara Nelson of Bel Air, Md.; and three grandchildren. In addition to his immediate family, Paul is further survived by his mother; sister, Evelyn Vanderheyden, both of Racine; and his brothers, Robert Nelson of Milwaukee and Frank Nelson of Fort Collins, Colo. Services were held for Colonel Nelson on Friday, March 31, 2006. Immediately following the services, he was interred in Arlington National Cemetery with Military Honors. Paul Henry Nelson will be deeply missed but never forgotten by his family, friends, and a grateful nation.