A member of Sam DiPaolo American Legion Post 1985 in Firestone, Colorado celebrated his 100th birthday on Sunday, October 2nd, 2016. Victor Nelson, who resides in Broomfield,CO now, became a member of Post 1985 about 1980, and kept his membership there, as he said, “Because the Broomfield Post didn’t need my money.”
Victor had been deferred during most of World War II because he had a job as a baker, which was considered a “protected job”. In April of 1945 he received a Draft notice, and when he reported to the Draft Board, his options were Army or Merchant Marine. Since he “didn’t want to live in fox holes”, he chose the Merchant Marines. He also knew that “there were lots of things to be delivered to the troops and not enough people to help deliver them.”
Being a Colorado native, he had never been to the West Coast at that time, but that is where he was sent for training and deployment. He said that the hardest thing he had to do was “Looking back at my two sons, age 3 and 6, and wondering if I would ever see them grow up.”
Because he had been a professional baker, working in a pastry shop in Broomfield,CO he was immediately assigned to the engine room on board his ship. He got to know the baker on board his ship because the ship’s baker was an apprentice, with no experience and needed help. Victor was told by the Chief Petty Officer to go to the Captain to talk to him about his experience and request an on board transfer as a baker. Unfortunately he had no idea who the Captain was or where he was. Shortly after this, the Captain had a birthday on board the ship. This Captain had spent most of his adult life at sea, but had never had a cake on his birthday. Victor used what little was available to create a cake for this birthday. The Captain then made Victor the main baker for the ship.
The cruise only lasted a few months. They sailed first to Guam, then Iran, and then to the Philippines. By then (October, 1945) the war was over.
Victor returned to Colorado, living in Empire and eventually moved to Dacono, CO in 1980. It was at that time that he joined American Legion Post 1985. He lived in Dacono at 742 2nd Street for over 20 years. After the death of his wife of 76 years, he moved to Broomfield with his family.
Victor has been on Honor Flight, but because of his age has not been able to attend the Mile of Smiles and Flags on I-25 to help other vets on their way.

View more history for Post 1985 in Firestone, Colorado