Maxwell Nelson was born in October 1921 in Covington County, Alabama and grew up in the town of Andalusia. The youngest of ten children growing up on a farm, Nelson worked throughout his childhood to help support the family through the Great Depression [Annotator's Note: The Great Depression was a global economic depression that lasted from 1929 through 1939 in the United States], particularly after his father died in the early 1930s. The Depression instilled in him many values that have served him well in life. He learned to be conservative and how to get ahead in life. In high school, Nelson paid attention to the course of the ongoing wars in Asia and Europe due to his teacher’s interest in world affairs, and he was afraid he would have to join the military one day. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941], Nelson was working in the forestry office of a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp in Alabama. He did not know how to respond to the news, only that he knew he would soon be joining the fight. He then went to work in a shipyard in Mobile, Alabama and received a deferral. Americans were very patriotic and wanted to help in the war effort.

In June 1943, nearing the end of Maxwell Nelson’s deferment, he decided to join the US Merchant Marine and was sent to St. Petersburg, Florida to begin training as an oiler in the ship’s boiler room. He was then put aboard the SS Sweetwater and made seven cross-Atlantic trips delivering aviation fuel to England and Scotland. He was escorted by five vessels every time he crossed the Atlantic. One of their escort ships was sunk by a German submarine on one such crossing. Following these trips, he went aboard the MV Sands Point and sailed into the Pacific, delivering aviation fuel to the Philippines. In July 1945, Nelson chose to go to officer’s schooling in New London, Connecticut. Following completion, he remained in the Merchant Marine until December 1947 when he was discharged as a third engineer. Nelson was honored to receive the Congressional Gold Medal as he believes it is a long overdue recognition for the service of merchantmen during WW2 [Annotator’s Note: In 2020, the United States Congress passed the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act in recognition of the contributions of the Merchant Marine during World War 2]. After the Japanese surrendered, many of his friends left base and went to celebrate even though they were told not to. Nelson was glad the war was over and was ready to get back to civilian life. He enjoyed visiting Scotland the most while he was overseas. It was a beautiful place.

Maxwell Nelson’s most memorable experience of World War 2 was the surrender of Japan [Annotator’s Note: 15 August 1945], which was the happiest time of the war for him. He served because he knew he would have to and he wanted to be a sailor. If it was not for his service, he would not have been able to afford to go to college and find a good job. He is glad he served, and he became open minded to other worldviews. Americans today are not dedicated to the country like his generation was during World War 2. Nelson believes there should be institutions like the National WWII Museum [Annotator's Note: The National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana], and that we should continue to teach World War 2 to future generations because kids are not taught about the subject in school. Young citizens should serve in the military before going to college. Nelson was honored to receive the Congressional Gold Medal [Annotator’s Note: In 2020, the United States Congress passed the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act in recognition of the contributions of the Merchant Marine during World War 2] as he believes it is a long overdue recognition for the service of merchantmen during WW2.