Herman Nickerson Jr.
Herman Nickerson Jr. was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. A veteran of several wars, he distinguished himself during the Korean War as commanding officer, 7th Marine Regiment and received the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest military award that can be given to a member of the United States Armed Forces for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force.
He served two tours of duty in South Vietnam and distinguished himself as commanding general, III Marine Amphibious Force which was responsible for all marine forces in the later part of the Vietnam War. Following his retirement, Nickerson worked as chairman, National Credit Union Administration.
Early years
Herman Nickerson Jr. was born on 30 July 1913 in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Herman and Emma Nickerson. He attended the high school in Arlington, Massachusetts, and enrolled at Boston University, where he was a member of ROTC unit for four years. Nickerson graduated in June 1935 with a bachelor's degree from the business school and also was commissioned Reserve second lieutenant in June 1934. Nicherson was Secretary-Treasurer of The Descendants of the Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Kings of Britain.Nickerson resigned his reserve commission in order to accept appointment as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on July 10, 1935. He was subsequently ordered to the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard for basic officer training, which he completed in February 1936. With 124 students, it was the largest Basic School class to that date. This class provided two future Marine Corps Commandants, five lieutenant generals, five major generals and six brigadier generals.
Nickerson then sailed for China and served two and half years with the guard duty at Shanghai International Settlement with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment under Colonel Charles F. B. Price. He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in August 1938 and returned to the United States in November of that year. Nickerson then assumed command of the Marine detachment at the Naval Air Station Seattle, Washington and remained in that capacity until November 1940. He then joined 2nd Defense Battalion under Major Lewis A. Hohn at San Diego, California and later served with the same unit at Parris Island, South Carolina.
World War II
Nickerson was ordered for instruction to the Army Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Virginia and completed the course in May 1941. He then rejoined 2nd Defense Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Raymond E. Knapp and sailed for American Samoa in January 1942. Nickerson participated in the anti-aircraft defense of Samoa until July 1943 and served consecutively as Battery commander, group executive officer and group commander, Three Inch Antiaircraft Artillery Group. He was meanwhile promoted to the rank of major in May 1942.Upon his return to the United States, Nickerson was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and attached to the staff of Marine Corps Schools, Quantico as commanding officer of Ordnance School. He later attended the Command and Staff School and following the graduation in February 1945, he was attached to the 4th Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Pendleton, California.
Nickerson was ordered to the Pacific area soon thereafter and joined 25th Marine Regiment on Maui, Hawaii. He served as executive officer under Colonel John R. Lanigan and later was transferred as Ordnance officer to the staff of 4th Marine Division under future Commandant, Major General Clifton B. Cates.
Postwar career
Following the deactivation of 4th Marine Division in November 1945, Nickerson joined the staff of III Marine Amphibious Corps under Lieutenant General Keller E. Rockey. He served again as Ordnance officer and took part in the occupation of North China in Tianjin during the Chinese Civil War. After the dissolving of III Marine Amphibious Corps in June 1946, Nickerson was attached to the staff of 1st Marine Division under Major General Samuel L. Howard and served as Division Ordnance Officer and Division Legal Officer, respectively, until January 1947, when he was ordered back to the United States. For his service in China, Nickerson was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal.Upon his return, Nickerson was ordered to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina and served consecutively as assistant operations officer, Recruiting Training Battalion Commander, Weapons Training Battalion Commander, and assistant chief of staff for operations under Major General Franklin A. Hart.
Nickerson was ordered to the Middle East in January 1949 and served as U.S. military observer with the United Nations Mission in Palestine following the Arab–Israeli War. He departed the Middle East in August of that year and enrolled at the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia. Nickerson completed the college in July 1950 and was promoted to the rank of colonel.
Korean War
Nickerson was subsequently ordered to the Far East, where meanwhile the Korean War broke out after the Korean People's Army invaded South Korea. He was ordered to Tokyo and attached as advisor on Marine Corps Matters to the General Headquarters, Far East Command under General of the Armies, Douglas MacArthur. He was subsequently attached as liaison officer to the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division and took part in the Battle of Inchon and subsequent recapture of Seoul in September 1950. Nickerson distinguished himself during the crossing of Han River, when he exposed himself to the KPA's direct fire to move from one company to another to obtain information vital to the successful continuation of the drive against the KPA. He received the Silver Star for his gallantry in action.In April 1951, Nickerson succeeded Colonel Homer Litzenberg as commanding officer, 7th Marine Regiment and led it during the counteroffensive while his troops pushed north after the retreating KPA. The Chinese People's Volunteer Army and KPA units launched their Spring Offensive on 22 April and the PVA first smashed through the Republic of Korea Army sector and attacked 7th Marine Regiment's positions. Nickerson and his regiment were forced to retreat and enemy penetrated behind the defense line. He led defense combats until mid-May, when 1st Marine Division under Major General Gerald C. Thomas launched a counteroffensive and inflicted heavy casualties on the Chinese and North Koreans forces.
Nickerson received orders to secure the high ground dominating the vital road junction near the town of Yanggu on 31 May 1951. His regiment advanced under heavy enemy mortar and after learning that two of his battalions were heavily engaged and that the enemy was grouping for a counterattack, Nickerson unhesitatingly left the comparative safety of his command post and moved forward over rugged mountainous terrain, under intense enemy mortar and artillery fire, to the most forward element of his command. Unmindful of his personal safety, he advanced to an exposed vantage point under heavy enemy fire and, guided his troops in repulsing the ferocious counterattack, taking the offensive and overwhelming the enemy to secure the high ground dominating the vital road junction of Yanggu. His regiment seized the town by nightfall and also its airfield and the hills surrounding the town.
For his leadership and gallantry in action, Nickerson was decorated with the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest military award that can be given to a member of the United States Armed Forces for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force.
His regiment was subsequently ordered to the reserve for a brief period, before returned to the defensive line north of Seoul soon thereafter. Nickerson and his marine enjoyed almost two months of relatively calm service, before they were ordered to relieve American and ROKA troops in the Punchbowl mountainous region of east-central Korea. Nickerson and his Marines spent three weeks hard fighting, before finally capturing several important defensive positions.
They were ordered back to reserve on 16 September 1951 and Nickerson left the regiment four days later with the orders for new assignment. For his service with 7th Marine Regiment, he was decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and also received Air Medal for participation in the reconnaissance flights over the enemy lines.
1951-1966
Nickerson was subsequently ordered to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for duty as Inspector, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific under Lieutenant General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. and served in this capacity until March 1952. He was then transferred to the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, under his old commanding officer, Clifton B. Cates, and was appointed director, Advance Base Problem Section. Nickerson served in this capacity until June 1954, when he was appointed director of the Senior School, which served as the training facility for senior marine officers in the field of amphibious warfare.In July 1956, he was ordered back to Pearl Harbor for duty as assistant chief of staff for operations, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific under Lieutenant General Edwin A. Pollock and following the transfer of Pollock to the Command of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic at Norfolk, Virginia in December 1957, Nickerson followed him in the same capacity.
He was transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., in September 1958 and assumed duty as special assistant to the Fiscal Director. Nickerson was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on 1 January 1959 and assumed duty Fiscal Director of the Marine Corps in April of that year. While in this capacity, he was also appointed president of the American Society of Military Comptrollers and held this title until 1960.
Nickerson served at Headquarters Marine Corps until the end of May 1962, when he was ordered to Camp Pendleton, California and assumed command of 1st Marine Division on 15 June 1962 from MG James M. Masters, Sr. For his new billet, he was promoted to the rank of major general on 1 July 1962.
He relinquished command of 1st Marine Division on 9 April 1963 to MG William T Fairbourn, when he assumed command of Marine Corps Supply Center Barstow, California. In this capacity, Nickerson was responsible for the logistics support of the Marine Forces in the Pacific until he assumed command of Camp Lejeune in June 1965. While in this capacity, he was responsible for the training of troops designated for combat deployment to South Vietnam.