Recently, Boone County’s West Virginia House of Delegates representative Joshua Nelson was activated for service with the West Virginia Air National Guard, causing him to miss some of the end of the recent legislative session. Nelson has been a member of the military since 2006, starting as a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve and transitioning into the West Virginia Air Guard. During his time in the Marine Corps he served as a 1371 Combat Engineer. Nelson described his job in the Marine Corps by saying, “Basically engineers do a lot of what the infantry does, but they also specialize in explosives and demolition.” He spent six weeks on active duty completing a requirement that was necessary for his military progression. At the end of his activation, he was commissioned as an Air Force and an Air National Guard officer to the rank of Second Lieutenant in the back of one of West Virginia’s C-130’s. When asked if he had intentions of getting out of the guard any time soon, Delegate Nelson responded, “Well I have quite a while left on my contract, but I have no intentions of getting out of the guard. I love serving our country and state and very much. I enjoy being a member of the military, while still working my job in the mining industry, as well as serving the people of the 23rd District in the legislature. I have no intentions of getting out.” There are a few other members of state legislatures around the United States who are also members of that state’s National Guard, although there are not many. Many believe it takes a special breed of individual to have the drive to carry both duties out, but Delegate Nelson says, “I love serving in both capacities. I love this state, and its people. Defending them both is an incredible honor and a privilege.” Nelson is also a former coal miner and was the first Republican ever elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in the history of Boone County.