Missing Libertyville Army Veteran May Have Gone to Colorado

The family of Libertyville’s Dan Nerstrom continues to hold out hope that the “distraught and possibly suicidal” Army veteran will be found. Nerstrom disappeared on Dec. 1, and police say one of his handguns is missing.

Due to injuries and brain trauma, Nerstrom retired from the Army in 2009. He served in Iraq from 2005 to 2006 as a scout. Nerstrom suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to his family, but he’s never been a threat to others.

Kim Nerstrom, his mother, told Tribune Media her son had an appointment at the James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center on Nov. 23. The VA moved the visit to Dec. 6, then moved it again to Dec. 18, she said. His mother said Nerstrom told doctors he needed help with his emotions.

His friend and Army comrade, Paulo Hernandez of Wisconsin, served in the same unit, the 3rd Armored Regiment, dubbed “Killer Troop.”

“As a scout, your job is to locate the enemy,” Hernandez said, explaining that Nerstrom was a good soldier who did his job very well and saw heavy action. “Sometimes you find the enemy, but they’re doing some rather unpleasant stuff and although you’re outnumbered you open fire and do everything you can to save the civilians.”

There is a memorial at an Army base in Colorado to Nerstrom’s and Hernandez’s lost friends. The police are considering the possibility that Nerstrom has headed to Colorado.

» more via Tribune Media