Nelson Rae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nelson S. Rae was an American radio and stage actor whose career and life were cut short during World War II. Nelson Rae was born in New Jersey in 1915.[1][2][3] He began his acting career as a member of the St. Louis Municipal Opera Company.[4] In 1940 he landed a role as a member of the original cast of the Broadway musical Pal Joey, which opened in December of that year and starred Gene Kelly.[5]
| Nelson Rae | |
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| Occupation | Stage, voice actor |
In March 1941 Rae was drafted into the military and replaced in the cast of Pal Joey by Norman Van Emburgh.[6][2][3] He was assigned to the 518th Military Police Battalion stationed at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York, where he was in charge of soldier’s entertainment.[7]
The 518th MP BN was later deployed to Bridgwater in Somerset, England.[8] and Rae’s unit participated in the June 06, 1944 D-Day landing in Normandy, France. The 518th MP BN saw heavy action in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944-January 1945.[9] In January 1945 Rae’s family received notice that he had been killed in action in Belgium.[3] At the time of his death Rae held the rank of technical Sergeant. He was buried in New Jersey.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Rae’s obituary in January 1945 lists his age at death as twenty-seven, which would make his birth date in 1917 or 1918. But Rhea’s military enlistment records list his birth as 1915. Census records from 1920 and 1930 at Ancestry.com list a “Nelson Rae” from Hudson, New Jersey born in 1915 whose father is William Rae, the same name as Rae’s father listed in his obituary.
- ^ a b c U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946: Nelson S Rae. Ancestry.com. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ a b c “Ex-Actor Killed In Action.” New York Times (1857-Current file ); Nov 10, 1941; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2003) pg. 3. Hennepin County Public Library, Minneapolis. June 16, 2007.
- ^ “Benefit Concert Is Held.” New York Times (1857-Current file ); Oct 31, 1941; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2003) pg. 16. Hennepin County Public Library, Minneapolis. June 16, 2007.
- ^ “The Play.” New York Times (1857-Current file ); Dec 26, 1940; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2003) pg. 22. Hennepin County Public Library, Minneapolis. June 16, 2007.
- ^ “Burr Production Here On April 10.” New York Times (1857-Current file ); Mar 3, 1941; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2003) pg. 11. Hennepin County Public Library, Minneapolis. June 16, 2007.
- ^ “Gala Attendance For Horse Show.” New York Times (1857-Current file ); Nov 10, 1941; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2003) pg. 11. Hennepin County Public Library, Minneapolis. June 16, 2007.
- ^ Wakefield, Ken (1944). Operation Bolero: The Americans in Bristol and the West Country, 1942-45. Crecy Books Limited, 125. ISBN 0947554513.
- ^ Richard Burch. History - 518th Military Police Battalion. Military.com. Retrieved on June 16, 2007.
