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Nels Gustaf Sandelin

6th Field Artillery, First Division

Battery B, 6th Field Artillery

Silver Star Medal (World War 1)

WW I Victory Medal with Battle Bars

French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre

OCS 1917

Narrative

Death 7 Feb 1958, Burial: San Francisco National Cemetery, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, Plot: SECTION WS SITE 488-B.

Nels Gustav Sandelin was born in Älmhult, Småland County, (now Kronoberg County) Sweden on the first day of December, 1887. He came to this country with his parents when he was quite young. His father Gustaf Johansson changed his surname to Sandelin because there were too many other “Johnsons” in Minnesota. His mother Elna Larsdotter Sandelin became a widow early in her marriage.

His parents settled on a farm near Kennedy, Kitson County, Minnesota. His father died when he was quite young and his widowed mother had a hard struggle to feed and clothe her little family. Nels worked with the rest of the family and did his bit. Owing to the financial condition young Nels received very little schooling, probably not attending school more than seven months in all.

When he was only fourteen years old he left home to make his own way. He worked at almost everything and traveled over a good portion of the United States. He saw much and remembered what he saw. He was a wonderful reader especially on science, history and biography. It is safe to say that he has read more books than many college graduates. Being possessed of a very retentive memory he is a man of much knowledge and considerable culture, having a very keen intellect and an inquiring mind.

When he was seventeen he enlisted in the Regular Army and served three years (1904-1907) when he was given an honorable discharge. After leaving the army young Sandelin worked in the Iowa coal mines. Later he went into the tiling business and finally took up tile contracting at Bingham Lake in Cottonwood County. He was so engaged when the United States entered the World War.

Sandelin immediately offered his services to the Government. He entered the first Officers' Training Camp at Fort Snelling in May, 1917, and came out a First Lieutenant of Field Artillery August 15, 1917, and received orders for active service with orders to report at port of embarkation. Hoboken, N. J., for overseas service, sailing from Hoboken N. J., Sept. 7, 1917, for Le Havre, France, via Liverpool, England, arriving at an artillery school in France.

He was ordered on immediate duty with the 6th Field Artillery, First Division in training area at Le Valclahon Doubs, France. On Sept. 30, 1917, he was assigned to Battery B, 6th F. A., and moved to the front in the Tunneville Sector of the Vosges front where the first American Artillery Emplacement was built in France. It was constructed under the direction of Major Sandelin. Major Sandelin was appointed Regimental Supply Officer, 6th Field Artillery, Dec. 17, 1917, promoted to Captain F. A. June, 1918, detailed as Assistant to Division Quartermaster Aug. 1, 1918, transferred to Quartermaster Corps Sept. 2, 1918, and appointed Division Quartermaster Oct. 28, 1918, serving as such through the last phase of the Argonne battle and march to the Rhine.

He was relieved Dec. 22, 1918. Major Sandelin participated in the following major operations:

• Montdidier-Noyon Lorraine Defensive

• The Marne(battle of Soissons)

• St. Mihiel, and the Argonne offensives.

He entered Germany from Luxemburg Dec. 1, 1918, and crossed the Rhine Dec. 14, 1918, serving in Germany until Aug. 19, 1919, sailing from Brest on Aug. 25, 1919, and arriving at New York Sept. 2, 1919.

The Major received citation for meritorious services overseas. His entire period of service was with the First Division. He was promoted to Major Quartermaster Corps March 3, 1919, and at the time of this publication is still in the service.

He has reached the highest rank of any man who was in the service in Cottonwood County.

He retired as a Colonel in the US Army and died 7 Feb 1958 in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California.