Thanks for writing this blog post and also working on writing Nellie's
book. I don't have any great stories with Nellie, but one little one.
I started PLU football under unusual circumstances as I applied and was
accepted into PLU after my senior year of high school with every
intention of playing EMAL football, but first I took a year off and went
to Argentina as an exchange student. During that year, Frosty announced
his retirement and Swesty ended up getting the nod to be head coach. I
kept in touch with my best friend from high school Jens Gilbertson, who
was going through his bomber year, and told him to make sure the coaches
knew I was coming back to PLU to play football the next year. He went
one step further and talked Nellie into letting me come to to the summer
bomber trip in Montana. We stayed at the Averill Flathead Lake Lodge
and part of the trip included riding some fire trucks up the mountain
for a country BBQ dinner. Nellie had really only know me for a few days
but trusted me enough to let me lift him up into the front seat of the
antique firetruck and put my arm around him as a seat belt to hold him
in place on the bumpy ride up the hill. Even though Nellie and I never
had the close relationship that he shared with many other EMALs, this
gesture was a testament to Nellie's unique ability to put his trust in
others, even if he didn't know them well. I know its not the same as
helping shower or use the bathroom, but that moment stood out for me.
I'll see you on Sunday at the service.
Carl Field
EMAL #78 '08
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