More detail on this person: NIELSEN, LT. COL.
KENNETH G., US ARMY (RETIRED), 81, passed
away Thursday, January 17, 2013 at Oaklawn
Health and Rehabilitation Center in Louisville.
He was born in Minneapolis MN on September 10,
1931 to Herluf and Ellen Nielsen. He earned his
pilot's license at age 16. At 17, he joined the US
Army. He served in post World War II Japan, was a
tank commander in the Korean War, and a
helicopter gunship commander in Vietnam. He
attended the Command and General Staff College in
Ft. Leavenworth KS. He earned many medals and
awards in service to his country, including the
Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross,
and The Bronze Star. He received his Bachelor of
Science in Aeronautical Studies Degree from
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and his
Master of Science degree from the University of
Louisville where he also attended the Brandeis
School of Law.
He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years,
Betty "Joey" Smith Nielsen; daughters, Lynn
Boettcher (Bill) of Virginia and Laura Van Meter
(Edward) of Louisville; son, Eric Nielsen (Erika)
of Louisville; grandchildren, Jennifer Van Meter
and Simon Nielsen of Louisville; and sister,
Bernice Berglund of Minnesota.
Funeral service will be 3 p.m. Tuesday at Owen
Funeral Home, 5317 Dixie Highway with burial at a
later date in Arlington National Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Tuesday noon-3 p.m.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to
Wounded Warriors.
Online condolence: owenfuneralhome.com
Published in The Courier-Journal on January 20,
2013
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association