Cotabato Force Prisoner of War Medal Purple Heart Combat Infantryman Badge Army Presidential Unit Citation Army Good Conduct Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Markmanship Badge Russell J. Nelson, is a US Army colonel who served both on World War I and World War II.

He went missing at sea when his transport ship was bombed and sunk.

[1] He organized his troops from local volunteers, PC units, and later 2nd Battalion, 102nd Infantry under Major William Baldwin arrived from Cagayan.

Colonel Nelson was missing and presumed dead on December 15, 1944.

His memoriam is in the Walls of Missing at American Manila Cemetery, in the Philippines.