Retired Springfield Soldier Receives Army's Distinguished Service Medal

Related Media

Maj. Gen. Dennis Celletti of Springfield awards retired Col. Tracy Nelson of Springfield, the Army’s Distinguished Service Medal by Aug. 28 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/28/2012)(readMedia)-- Retired Illinois Army National Guard Col. Tracy Nelson of Springfield, received the Army's Distinguished Service Medal Aug. 28 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.

Nelson received the award for meritorious service and leadership during his 27 years of military service. Nelson retired April 31 as the director of logistics for the Illinois National Guard's Joint Forces Headquarters in Springfield.

The Army's Distinguished Service Medal was presented to Nelson by Maj. Gen. Dennis Celletti of Springfield, the Acting Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. The medal is is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the U.S. military. The medal is awarded for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the U.S. Armed Forces or other uniformed services.

Nelson enlisted in the active component of the U.S. Army in 1975. After a short break in service he later enlisted into the Illinois Army National and enrolled into Officer Candidate School commissioning as a second lieutenant in 1985. Nelson served in various command and leadership postions from the company to state level. He served on several overseas missions and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010.

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Maj. Gen. Dennis Celletti of Springfield, the Acting Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard awards retired Illinois Army National Guard Col. Tracy Nelson of Springfield, the Army's Distinguished Service Medal by Aug. 28 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.