Patrick Nelson

AGE 27

MILITARY SERVICE

U.S. Army, 2002-2008

Staff Sergeant (E-6)

THE COMPANY

Real Combat Life

LOCATION   Mankato, MN

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES 1

NUMBER OF MILITARY EMPLOYEES 1

WEBSITE www.realcombatlife.com

YEAR FOUNDED 2009

FAVORITE TV SHOW “The Office”

FAVORITE FOOD Spaghetti

FAVORITE MOVIE STAR Bill Murray

ROLE MODEL Mark Madsen

DREAM JOB General Manager of a professional sports organization

ALMA MATER Minnesota State University (currently attending)

FAVORITE MUSICIAN Garth Brooks

WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT?  Homework and working on Real Combat Life

WHAT MAKES YOU JUMP OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING?  More homework and working on Real Combat Life

WHAT MAKES YOU NERVOUS? Being 27, going to school and basically starting all over (career -wise).

WHO DO YOU MOST ADMIRE? Any professional athlete, musician, actor, comedian, etc. who has gone on USO tours to visit our troops

When Patrick Nelson left the Army in 2008, he was having trouble adjusting to civilian life and was disappointed in the media’s coverage of military veterans and the wars our nation is fighting. He decided to start a website, Realcombatlife.com, where he and other veterans could share their stories.

This past summer, Nelson won a $25,000 grant through the Pepsi Refresh Project to create the site – which is dedicated to all past, present and future veterans of the Armed Forces. It aims to give readers a detailed look into what life in a combat zone is really like. There are battle stories as well as a look in to daily lives of those in harm’s way. Nelson said he found it difficult to answer all questions of what it was really like over there, prompting him to write about his experience. 

“I won the grant in the very first month of the program,” Nelson said.  “The winners are determined by a month-long voting process that is done by the public. I had a complete grass roots campaign in getting the word out and beat out many larger organizations that are more established.”
He said his key to success is his passion for the project. 

“I am a full-time college student and also completing an internship in the sports management field. Keeping up with my project gets tough as my other responsibilities and take a lot of time.  But, it’s my passion in helping veterans that drives Real Combat Life and the great supporters that have helped me.”

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