The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas Lottery Veteran Recognition: Nick and Shelby Nelms
09.02.2016 | Football, Texas Athletics
On Sunday, Army veterans Nick and Shelby Nelms will be recognized during the coin toss.
Nick and Shelby Nelms were born an ocean apart, he in Germany and she in Florida, but their call to service eventually connected them. Both enlisted in the Army and were stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas.
In April 2010, their unit was deployed to Afghanistan. Shelby says the two "hung out" a few times while they were still stationed in Kansas, and their friendship developed during deployment. In February 2011, both were out on a mission when Shelby's truck was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED). Nick was one of the combat medics in the convoy and immediately raced to Shelby's side.
"I kept thinking as I ran to her, 'I can't live without this woman,'" Nick said. "That was my moment."
Shelby, a military police officer, recovered from her injuries, and the couple married later that year when they returned from Afghanistan.
Shelby received an Honorable Medical Retirement from the Army in December 2014. Nick was honorably discharged a few months later. During his years of service, Nick received several accolades including an Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, an Army Service Ribbon, a NATO Medal and Combat Medical Badge. Shelby was also awarded an Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, an Army Commendation Medal and an Army Service Ribbon. Both suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other lingering injuries as a result of their time in combat.
Even after retirement from active duty, Nick and Shelby remained committed to their call to service. Nick volunteers as a Wounded Warrior Advisor to the U.S. House of Representatives. Shelby volunteers as a General Schedule (GS) employee with the U.S. Army Garrison West Point, and it was through that connection that Nick and Shelby were suggested to Operation Finally Home, an organization that builds custom, mortgage-free home for military veterans and widows of the fallen.
"They were looking for families who were interested in certain areas of the country, including the Austin area," Shelby explained.
Nick, whose family moved to Texas when he was 7, dreamed to use the funds from his GI Bill to attend The University of Texas. He and Shelby wanted to move to Central Texas with their two young children, but were without the means to do so.
The couple submitted to a year-long interview process, and were invited to come down for an interview.
"It turned out to be a surprise announcement," Shelby said. "That's when they told us we'd be getting a house."
The Nelms family is planning to move into their new home in November, just after Veterans Day.
Thanks to the Texas Lottery, great things are happening all across Texas. Every year, more than a billion dollars goes to good causes like public education and veterans assistance programs.
Since 1992, the Texas Lottery has generated more than $25 billion in revenue for good causes in the state of Texas, including education, veterans' services and other important state programs. Through strict adherence to their vision, mission and core values, the Texas Lottery is dedicated to ensuring that these benefits continue.
