Captain Hugh Reavis Nelson, ’59, becomes first Citadel graduate to receive Medal of Honor

On Friday, January 3, 2025, the United States honored Capt. Hugh Reavis Nelson Jr., Citadel Class of 1959, with the nation’s highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War.

Nelson, who accepted a commission into the Army just before graduating from The Citadel, was killed in combat on June 5, 1966, while protecting the lives of his fellow soldiers.

The Medal of Honor is awarded to any service member who “distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.”

“Captain Hugh Nelson: Citadel graduate, helicopter pilot and a proud young father. He was just 28 years old when he and his crew were shot down in Vietnam,” President Biden said during the presentation ceremony. “Hugh freed his men who were trapped in the wreckage and, as the enemy began to attack, he used his body as a shield to protect them. It cost him dearly — it cost him his life. His commanding officer called it the ultimate act of self-sacrifice, which it was.”

Nelson was commanding a Cobra aircraft, an attack helicopter, when it was struck by hostile gun fire and downed, with all weapons destroyed in the crash. After regaining consciousness, Nelson ignored his injuries and began evacuating his fellow soldiers from the helicopter while under enemy fire, using his own body as a human shield to save the life a crew member. His efforts allowed the surviving crew members to be evacuated.

“Capt. Hugh Reavis Nelson Jr. exemplified the highest values of courage, selflessness and leadership that we instill in every Citadel cadet. Nelson’s service to his comrades and country remains an enduring inspiration for us all. We will continue to honor his legacy with deep gratitude and unwavering pride and are proud to acknowledge him, not only as a Citadel graduate, but now also as a Medal of Honor recipient,” said The Citadel President Gen. Glenn Walters, USMC (Ret.), ’79.

Nelson’s example of sacrifice is particularly meaningful for The Citadel, as his co-pilot, Capt. Warren Bailey Jones, Citadel Class of 1964, survived the crash thanks to Nelson’s actions.

“The sacrifice of Capt. Hugh Nelson is a powerful reminder of the values we uphold at The Citadel — honor, duty and respect,” said Cadet Thomas Fitzpatrick, a senior at The Citadel who attended the ceremony. “As someone who plans to enlist in the U.S. Army after graduation, we all strive to lead with the same bravery and commitment to his fellow soldiers that Captain Hugh Reavis Nelson Jr. demonstrated.”

At the same ceremony, President Biden also awarded the Medal of Honor to six other U.S. Army soldiers.

Nelson was previously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions.

The Citadel will work with Nelson’s family to mark this historic award at a future event.

While Nelson is the first graduate of The Citadel to receive the Medal of Honor, he is also the third former cadet to do so. Sgt. 1st Class Christopher A. Celiz, Class of 2008, attended The Citadel before enlisting in the Army. He was killed in Afghanistan in 2018 while evacuating wounded personnel under heavy fire.  Brig. Gen. John Thomas Kennedy Class, 1907, attended The Citadel for a year before graduating from West Point; he was severely wounded in the Philippine-American War leading an assault against enemy combatants in a cave.

Click HERE for Medal of Honor Citation Page.

Source: The Citadel