Lt. Col. Nellans, Grossnickle To Speak At Mentone Memorial Day Service
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The service will be at 2 p.m. May 25 at the old part of the Mentone Cemetery. Memorial Day is May 26.
Nellans began his Army career in 1984 with the Maryland National Guard. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army in June 1986 and entered active duty in 1989 after graduating from Delaware State University.[[In-content Ad]]He has served at a number of duty stations including Ft. Lewis, Wash.; Kirch Gons, Germany; National Training Center, Ft. Irwin, Calif.; and Ft. Bragg, N.C.
In May 2005, Nellans deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he trained Iraqi soldiers, earning a Bronze Star.
During his military service, Nellans earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Ranger Tab, Airborne Wings and several other awards and decorations.
He currently is assigned to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., where he tests and evaluates new equipment for the Army.
Nellans is planning to retire this fall after 24 years of service.
Grossnickle was born and raised in North Manchester and graduated from North Manchester High School in 1942.
He joined the USN flight program when he turned 18. He flew Piper Cubs, Stearmans, Vultee Valiants, AT6, F4F Wildcats and flew F6F Helcats off five different aircraft carriers in the Pacific area during World War II.
After World War II ended, he entered optometry college after one year at the University of Iowa and one year at Manchester College and then four years at the Northern Illinois College of Optometry.
He then enlisted in the USN as an optometrist rather than being recalled to fly again in the Navy during the Korean War, and finished his Navy career with 10 years of active duty.
After resigning from the USN, he came to Warsaw, where he recently retired from Grossnickle Eye Center after 50 years of practice.
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The service will be at 2 p.m. May 25 at the old part of the Mentone Cemetery. Memorial Day is May 26.
Nellans began his Army career in 1984 with the Maryland National Guard. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army in June 1986 and entered active duty in 1989 after graduating from Delaware State University.[[In-content Ad]]He has served at a number of duty stations including Ft. Lewis, Wash.; Kirch Gons, Germany; National Training Center, Ft. Irwin, Calif.; and Ft. Bragg, N.C.
In May 2005, Nellans deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he trained Iraqi soldiers, earning a Bronze Star.
During his military service, Nellans earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Ranger Tab, Airborne Wings and several other awards and decorations.
He currently is assigned to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., where he tests and evaluates new equipment for the Army.
Nellans is planning to retire this fall after 24 years of service.
Grossnickle was born and raised in North Manchester and graduated from North Manchester High School in 1942.
He joined the USN flight program when he turned 18. He flew Piper Cubs, Stearmans, Vultee Valiants, AT6, F4F Wildcats and flew F6F Helcats off five different aircraft carriers in the Pacific area during World War II.
After World War II ended, he entered optometry college after one year at the University of Iowa and one year at Manchester College and then four years at the Northern Illinois College of Optometry.
He then enlisted in the USN as an optometrist rather than being recalled to fly again in the Navy during the Korean War, and finished his Navy career with 10 years of active duty.
After resigning from the USN, he came to Warsaw, where he recently retired from Grossnickle Eye Center after 50 years of practice.
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