Terry J. Nielsen accepts the traditional folded flag from Utah's Veterans of Foreign War state commander during the interment service for his father Lt. Col. Chase J. Nielsen March 28. Colonel Nielsen was one of the few remaining members of the famed Doolittle Raiders. The members of the Doolittle Raiders reached national acclaim in 1942 after launching the first successful aerial bombing raid on Tokyo, Japan as retaliation for the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in December of 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Efrain Gonzalez)
Lt. Colonel Chase J. Nielsen's body lies in state as friends, family and fellow veterans pay their last respects at his memorial service in Hyrum, Utah March 28. Colonel Nielsen was one of the few remaining members of the famed Doolittle Raiders. The members of the Doolittle Raiders reached national acclaim in 1942 after launching the first successful aerial bombing raid on Tokyo, Japan as retaliation for the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in December of 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Efrain Gonzalez)
Willie Hunsaker, retired Navy SEABEE and member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 1695 from Brigham City, Utah, mourns the loss of Lt. Colonel Chase J. Nielsen at his memorial service in Hyrum, Utah March 28. Colonel Nielsen, a long time member of VFW Post 1695 post, was more than a hero to the post's members. Colonel Nielsen was one of the few remaining members of the famed Doolittle Raiders. The members of the Doolittle Raiders reached national acclaim in 1942 after launching the first successful aerial bombing raid on Tokyo, Japan as retaliation for the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in December of 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Efrain Gonzalez)
Nielsen family members carry the body of deceased Lt. Colonel Chase J. Nielsen to his final resting place in the city cemetery of Hyrum, Utah March 28. Colonel Nielsen was one of the few remaining members of the famed Doolittle Raiders. The members of the Doolittle Raiders reached national acclaim in 1942 after launching the first successful aerial bombing raid on Tokyo, Japan as retaliation for the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in December of 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Efrain Gonzalez)
Veterans from Veterans of Foreign War Post 1695, Post 8307 and active duty military members pay their final respects at Lt. Colonel Chase J. Nielsen memorial service in Hyrum, Utah March 28. Colonel Nielsen was one of the few remaining members of the famed Doolittle Raiders. The members of the Doolittle Raiders reached national acclaim in 1942 after launching the first successful aerial bombing raid on Tokyo, Japan as retaliation for the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in December of 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Efrain Gonzalez)
Members of Veterans of Foreign War Post 1695 and Post 8307 from Brigham City and Layton Utah, provided military honors during the memorial service of Lt. Colonel Chase J. Nielsen in Hyrum, Utah March 28. Colonel Nielsen was one of the few remaining members of the famed Doolittle Raiders. The members of the Doolittle Raiders reached national acclaim in 1942 after launching the first successful aerial bombing raid on Tokyo, Japan as retaliation for the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in December of 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Efrain Gonzalez)
Family photos and other memorabilia adorn the chapel of the Allen-Hall Mortuary where family and friends attended Lt. Colonel Chase J. Nielsen memorial service in Hyrum, Utah March 28. Colonel Nielsen was one of the few remaining members of the famed Doolittle Raiders. The members of the Doolittle Raiders reached national acclaim in 1942 after launching the first successful aerial bombing raid on Tokyo, Japan as retaliation for the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in December of 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/Efrain Gonzalez)
Lt. Chase J. Nielsen (left) stands with his fellow crewmen before the famed Doolittle Raid mission April 18, 1942. As part of Crew No. 6, 95th Bombardment Squadron, they flew Plane #40-2298 to bomb targets in Tokyo. (Left to right) Lt. Chase J. Neilsen (navigator), Lt. Dean E. Hallmark (pilot), Sgt. Donald E. Fitzmaurice (engineer-gunner), Lt. Robert J. Meder (co-pilot), Sgt. William J Dieter (bombardier). (U.S. Air Force photo)
by Airman 1st Class Clay Murray
75th Air Base Wing public affairs
3/29/2007 - HYRUM, UTAH (AFNEWS) -- Friends, family and servicemembers paid their respects March 28 to retired Lt. Col. Chase J. Nielsen, a member of the Tokyo Doolittle Raiders, who died March 23 at his home in Brigham City, Utah.
A service was held in Logan, Utah, and his interment at a cemetery in Hyrum, Utah.
Although inclement weather prevented a planned four-ship, missing-man formation flyover, the wet and windy conditions did not stop viewers from being with him at his final resting place.
"We, as a family, have found out that he has really had an influence on people," Colonel Nielsen's son, Terry Nielsen said. "People and newspapers have called us wanting to know more about him."
Colonel Nielsen's nephew, Thad Erickson, explained how moving on wouldn't be easy. He and his wife have traveled to Brigham City, Utah, many times to visit the colonel.
"He's been a hero in our eyes," said Mr. Erickson, who served in the Air National Guard for 30 years, "and he's served his country well. He leaves behind an important legacy."
In front of a crowd that included members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1695, his church, and the Royal Air Force, Colonel Nielsen's family spoke about his recollection of his prisoner of war experiences that speak to all and shed light on the atmosphere of World War II for U.S. servicemembers.
"I guess the Air Force is a family I've always been proud to be a part of," said Mr. Erickson. "This has been a great blessing, and it's been an uplifting and faith strengthening experience to see his life. We have to think about the Doolittle Raiders who died and the U.S. military members who died along the way and the ones who serve now. As my uncle lies here, I am just so proud to have been associated with him and to have known him."
The Tokyo Doolittle Raid was led by Lt. Col. James Doolittle and consisted of 16 B-25 Mitchells and 80 Airmen who took off from the deck of the USS Hornet April 18, 1942. The mission was launched early when the fleet was spotted by Japanese picket boats. The premature launch led to inadequate amounts of fuel that caused some of the planes to crash land off the coast of China.
Although two men were killed in the crash landings, eight surviving crewmembers were taken into custody by the Japanese as POWs. Of the eight servicemembers who were captured, three were executed and one died while in captivity.
"He went through months of torture and pain after being sentenced life imprisonment and solitary confinement," said Mr. Nielsen about his father.
After 40 months of imprisonment, Colonel Nielsen was rescued by a pararescue team and brought back to the United States. In January 1946, he returned to China to testify in the International War Crimes Trials against four Japanese officers who ultimately were found guilty of war crimes.
Of the original 80 men who took part in the historic flight with Colonel Nielsen, 14 of those are alive today. In 1947, Colonel Doolittle started a tradition to host the Raiders annual reunion. At each reunion, the surviving Raiders meet privately to conduct a solemn goblet ceremony to honor the reunion and the deceased.
Staff Sgt. William L. Birch, a bombardier from "Crew #11," who passed away Nov. 18, 2006, will also be toasted to this year. As part of tradition, a goblet with the Raider's name is engraved twice--so that it can be read both right side up and upside down.
The reunion will be held annually until only two Raiders remain. They will drink a final toast of a vintage bottle of cognac. The 2007 reunion will be held in San Antonio April 17-21.
On the floorboards of his cell, now on display at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Colonel Nielsen documents that he was part of the Tokyo bombing. He noted that he had been sentenced to execution. Along with these words he also quotes William Penn, writing, "For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity."
