This week’s Veteran is Nels Wickander, who served in the U.S. Army from 1966 – 1967. He was a Combat Engineer, and upon completion of his training, was sent to Vietnam, to blow up things. Part of Nels job was in Explosive Ordnance Disposal, where he was tasked to identify, disarm, and neutralize explosive ordnance, or other potential hazards. He was also qualified to operate bulldozers and other heavy equipment, which were used to remove small foliage and grasses from around American bases to improve the sight of American defenders when under enemy attack. But Wickander was mostly tasked to remove trees and bridges by explosive means. Nels loved that part of the job. Wickander had an illness towards the end of his tour, nothing involving women or bullets, and was Med-e Vacced to Fort Riley, Kansas. He slowly recovered, and was assigned as a typist to finish out his time in service. Wickander went on to work in the metals industry, heat treating piping, for different purposes, including the oilfield industry. Nel’s shop is located next to The Lone Star Veterans Group in the Poplar Business Park in Conroe, where he has several very cute secretaries to help him run his consulting office. Good Luck Nels, and Congratulations on being MCNs ‘Veteran of the Week’.
If the full content does not display, visit the article originally published on this site
