Remembering Nelson "Sparky" Nersasian

Late in the day on March 9, 1944, the Coast Guard Destroyer Escort U.S.S. Leopold was engaged by two German U-Boats while on escort duty with the 27-ship convoy CU-16.

The crew used deck guns to fire on the first U-Boat. At 8:15 p.m., the second U-Boat struck the Leopold with an acoustic torpedo.

The Leopold cracked right across the middle of the deck. The ship hinged from the middle with the fore and aft of the vessel sagging into icy North Atlantic waters. An ocean storm was just beginning to blow as the seamen of the Leopold struggled to launch lifeboats. 

As the storm began to gain strength, the U.S. S. Joyce approached the survivors in a rescue attempt. The Joyce was driven away by the firing deck guns of the U-Boats but not before announcing with megaphones, "God bless you, we'll be back."

Commander Kenneth Phillips and many of the crew died when they were either swept from the decks by the huge waves or when the Leopold finally slipped beneath the icy storm-driven sea.

Those that escaped the ship were rescued by the Joyce after more than five hours in the water. Of the original crew of 186 men there were only 28 survivors.

One survivor of that ship was Salem native Nelson "Sparky" Nersasian. A 1939 graduate of he worked at Nelson's Spa on upper Essex Street prior to his military induction on January 8, 1943. Nersasian was a member of the deck as a three-inch gun pointer. 

He returned to Salem after the war and returned to work at Nelson's Spa. There were no stories that he told, no tales of heroic deeds. Just a quiet return to the normal life of a civilian who had answered the call of his country.

Years later, he would finally speak to his family about his experiences on that cold winter night in the north Atlantic. Even at that time in his life, he spoke not of his own heroism, but of the ordeal that he and his shipmates endured. He died in 1975.

In June of last year, his niece, Dr. Tori Nersasian, read news that the last known survivor of the Leopold received a long overdue Purple Heart. She contacted the Coast Guard and asked about her uncle and whether or not he had ever received recognition as a Leopold survivor.  Her inquiry led to contact with the family members of other survivors. On May 2, 2011, after investigating "Sparky" Nersasian's service record, the U. S. Coast Guard approved him to for his service aboard the U. S. S. Leopold on that fateful night in 1944. 

During WWII, United Stares Forces suffered almost 1 million casualties (combat deaths and injuries). That overwhelming number was the cause of many a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine not receiving the recognition he or she was due. Over the years, many an unintentional slight has been corrected.

At a ceremony held at Winter Island on May 21, 2011 his family and some friends gathered as Rear Admiral, Commander of Coast Guard District One Daniel Neptun awarded Nersasian his Purple Heart. His sister, Ann Savoie, and brother, Dr. Robert Nersasian accepted it on his behalf.

This weekend, as we honor those who gave their lives in honor, we should also try to remember those like "Sparky" Nersasian — the quiet heroes who came home to live amongst us.