Event honoring Medal of Honor recipient Capt. Hugh Reavis Nelson, Citadel Class of 1959
February 25, 2025
The Citadel will host a special event on Friday, Feb. 28, to honor Medal of Honor recipient Capt. Hugh Reavis Nelson Jr., ’59, with a panel discussion and parade.
Nelson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism as an Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam in 1966. After rescuing his crew from a downed aircraft, he shielded the injured with his own body under heavy enemy fire until they were safely evacuated — ultimately sacrificing his life to protect his men.
To further honor Nelson, The Citadel will host a panel discussion at 1:45 p.m. inside Capers Hall auditorium. The panel will feature Nelson’s son and daughter, who will discuss what their father’s legacy means to them, what receiving the Medal of Honor represents and what the official ceremony at the White House was like.
The panel discussion will also be livestreamed here: https://www.youtube.com/live/8ZiM1xIME18
At 3:45 p.m., the traditional full-dress military parade that takes place on Summerall Field will further honor both Nelson and his family.
