Herman Nickerson Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Lieutenant general Herman Nickerson Jr., USMC | |
| Born | (1913-07-13)July 13, 1913 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | December 26, 2000(2000-12-26) (aged 87) Waldo, Maine, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1935–1970 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Service number | 0-5128 |
| Commands | III Marine Amphibious Force Camp Lejeune 1st Marine Division Marine Supply Center Barstow 7th Marine Regiment |
| Battles / wars | Yangtze Patrol World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal Air Medal |
Herman Nickerson Jr. (30 July 1913 – 26 December 2000) was a highly decorated officer of theUnited States Marine Corps with the rank oflieutenant general. A veteran of several wars, he distinguished himself during theKorean War as commanding officer,7th Marine Regiment and received theDistinguished Service Cross, the second highestmilitary 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.[1]
He served two tours of duty inSouth Vietnam and distinguished himself as commanding general,III Marine Amphibious Force which was responsible for all marine forces in the later part of theVietnam War. Following his retirement, Nickerson worked as chairman,National Credit Union Administration.[2]
Herman Nickerson Jr. was born on 30 July 1913 inBoston,Massachusetts, the son of Herman and Emma Nickerson. He attended the high school inArlington, Massachusetts, and enrolled atBoston University, where he was a member ofROTC unit for four years. Nickerson graduated in June 1935 with abachelor's degree from the business school[3] and also was commissioned Reserve second lieutenant in June 1934.[1][2]
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 tothe Basic School atPhiladelphia 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 futureMarine Corps Commandants (Leonard F. Chapman Jr. andRobert E. Cushman Jr.), five lieutenant generals (Lewis J. Fields,Frederick E. Leek, Nickerson,William J. Van Ryzin,Richard G. Weede), five major generals (William R. Collins,William T. Fairbourn,Bruno Hochmuth,Raymond L. Murray,Carey A. Randall) and six brigadier generals (William W. Buchanan,Odell M. Conoley,Frederick P. Henderson,Roy L. Kline,John C. Miller Jr.,Thomas F. Riley).[4]
Nickerson then sailed forChina and served two and half years with the guard duty atShanghai International Settlement with2nd Battalion,4th Marine Regiment under ColonelCharles 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 theNaval Air Station Seattle,Washington and remained in that capacity until November 1940. He then joined 2nd Defense Battalion under MajorLewis A. Hohn atSan Diego,California and later served with the same unit atParris Island,South Carolina.[1][2]
Nickerson was ordered for instruction to theArmy Coast Artillery School atFort Monroe,Virginia and completed the course in May 1941. He then rejoined 2nd Defense Battalion under Lieutenant ColonelRaymond E. Knapp and sailed forAmerican 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.[1]
Upon his return to the United States, Nickerson was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and attached to the staff ofMarine Corps Schools,Quantico as commanding officer ofOrdnance 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 atCamp Pendleton, California.[1][2]
Nickerson was ordered to the Pacific area soon thereafter and joined25th Marine Regiment onMaui,Hawaii. He served as executive officer under ColonelJohn R. Lanigan and later was transferred as Ordnance officer to the staff of4th Marine Division under futureCommandant, Major GeneralClifton B. Cates.[1][5]
Following the deactivation of 4th Marine Division in November 1945, Nickerson joined the staff ofIII Marine Amphibious Corps under Lieutenant GeneralKeller E. Rockey. He served again as Ordnance officer and took part in the occupation ofNorth China inTianjin during theChinese Civil War. After the dissolving of III Marine Amphibious Corps in June 1946, Nickerson was attached to the staff of1st Marine Division under Major GeneralSamuel 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 theBronze Star Medal.[1][2]
Upon his return, Nickerson was ordered to theMarine 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 GeneralFranklin A. Hart.[1]
Nickerson was ordered to theMiddle East in January 1949 and served as U.S. military observer with theUnited Nations Mission inPalestine following theArab–Israeli War. He departed the Middle East in August of that year and enrolled at theArmed Forces Staff College atNorfolk, Virginia. Nickerson completed the college in July 1950 and was promoted to the rank of colonel.[1][2]
Nickerson was subsequently ordered to theFar East, where meanwhile theKorean War broke out after theKorean People's Army (KPA) invadedSouth Korea. He was ordered toTokyo and attached as advisor on Marine Corps Matters to the General Headquarters,Far East Command underGeneral of the Armies,Douglas MacArthur. He was subsequently attached as liaison officer to the1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division and took part in theBattle of Inchon and subsequentrecapture of Seoul in September 1950. Nickerson distinguished himself during the crossing ofHan 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 theSilver Star for his gallantry in action.[6][2]
In April 1951, Nickerson succeeded ColonelHomer Litzenberg as commanding officer,7th Marine Regiment and led it during the counteroffensive while his troops pushed north after the retreating KPA. The ChinesePeople's Volunteer Army (PVA) and KPA units launched theirSpring Offensive on 22 April and the PVA first smashed through theRepublic of Korea Army (ROKA) sector and attacked 7th Marine Regiment's positions. Nickerson and his regiment were forced to retreat and enemy penetrated 30 miles (48 km) behind the defense line. He led defense combats until mid-May, when 1st Marine Division under Major GeneralGerald C. Thomas launched acounteroffensive and inflicted heavy casualties on the Chinese and North Koreans forces.[7]
Nickerson received orders to secure the high ground dominating the vital road junction near the town ofYanggu 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.[6][7]
For his leadership and gallantry in action, Nickerson was decorated with theArmy Distinguished Service Cross, the second highestmilitary 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.[6]
His regiment was subsequently ordered to the reserve for a brief period, before returned to the defensive line north ofSeoul 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 thePunchbowl mountainous region of east-central Korea. Nickerson and his Marines spent three weekshard fighting, before finally capturing several important defensive positions.[2][8]
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 theLegion of Merit withCombat "V" and also receivedAir Medal for participation in the reconnaissance flights over the enemy lines.[6]
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Nickerson was subsequently ordered toPearl Harbor,Hawaii for duty as Inspector,Fleet Marine Force, Pacific under Lieutenant GeneralLemuel 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.[1]
In July 1956, he was ordered back to Pearl Harbor for duty as assistant chief of staff for operations (G-3), Fleet Marine Force, Pacific under Lieutenant GeneralEdwin A. Pollock and following the transfer of Pollock to the Command ofFleet Marine Force, Atlantic at Norfolk, Virginia in December 1957, Nickerson followed him in the same capacity.[1]
He was transferred toHeadquarters Marine Corps inWashington, 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.[1][2]
Nickerson served at Headquarters Marine Corps until the end of May 1962, when he was ordered to Camp Pendleton, California and assumed command of1st 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.[1][2]
He relinquished command of 1st Marine Division on 9 April 1963 to MG William T Fairbourn, when he assumed command ofMarine Corps Supply Center Barstow, California.[9] In this capacity, Nickerson was responsible for the logistics support of the Marine Forces in the Pacific until he assumed command ofCamp Lejeune in June 1965. While in this capacity, he was responsible for the training of troops designated for combat deployment toSouth Vietnam.[1][2][10]
Nickerson was ordered to South Vietnam in September 1966 and succeeded Major GeneralLewis J. Fields in command of the 1st Marine Division with temporary additional duty as deputy commander,III Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF) under Lieutenant GeneralLewis W. Walt. His tactical area was increased to 1,536 square miles and one his first orders was to move his headquarters fromChu Lai toDa Nang, which was closer to theVietnamese Demilitarized Zone. He then established theKit Carson program, whose members were formerViet Cong combatants, who now worked with the Marines as scouts.[11]
His tactical area of responsibility consisted of the three southernmost provinces ofI Corps:Quang Nam,Quang Tin, andQuang Ngai. This area was important for diverse reasons. It contained a large population, was a rich rice-producing basin, and was a major source of salt, which had traditionally been a medium of barter and a taxable commodity in Vietnam. Furthermore, the tree-covered foothills of theAnnamite Mountains jutting into the coastal plain and the numerous rivers provided the enemy with natural access to the area.[11]
The increasing activity of Viet Cong in Nickerson's area of responsibility, forced him to took action. During the first three months of the year, for example, the 1st Marine Division carried out 36,553 company-size operations, patrols, and ambushes in the Da Nang Tactical Area alone.[12]
According to the joint Vietnamese-U. S. 1967 Combined Campaign Plan in which III MAF troops were to relieveArmy of the Republic of Vietnam units from outpost duty so that they could be employed more effectively elsewhere in theRevolutionary Development Program.Operation Desoto inĐức Phổ District commencing late January 1967 was the first one of these relieving operations. The Marines under Nickerson's command assumed defense of the district, but participated in the skirmishes with Viet Cong until the early April of that year and suffered 76 dead and 573 wounded. The Marines claimed 383 Viet Cong killed.[12]
During the previous operation, Nickerson received several intelligence reports indicating the presence ofPeople's Army of Vietnam and Viet Cong units in theQuế Sơn Valley. In order to prevent the enemy forces launched major attack, Nickerson approved theOperation Union in mid-April 1967, thesearch and destroy mission to eliminate these enemy units. The fighting lasted until mid-May of that year and Marines killed 865 People's Army and Viet Cong combatants.[12]
For his meritorious and distinguished service during previous operations, Nickerson was decorated withNavy Distinguished Service Medal and transferred to the headquarters III MAF in Da Nang as deputy to his former Basic School classmate, lieutenant generalRobert E. Cushman. He served in this capacity until mid-October 1967, when he was ordered back to the United States. Nickerson was decorated with second Legion of Merit for his service as deputy commander, III MAF and also receivedNational Order of Vietnam, rank Knight,Vietnam Distinguished Service Order, 1st Class andVietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.[6]
Upon his return to the United States, Nickerson was attached to the Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., as the deputy chief of staff for manpower. In this capacity, he served as the principal advisor to theCommandant of the Marine Corps,Leonard F. Chapman Jr., and the chief of staff,William J. Van Ryzin, on all manpower matters for regular, reserve, both active and inactive, and civilian personnel, as well as the individual training and education of military personnel. His responsibilities included the planning, direction, coordination, supervision, and implementation of over 300,000 active duty personnel, approximately 170,000 Marine Corps Reserve personnel, and cognizance over some 25,000 civilian personnel.[6]
Following the reorganization of the Headquarters Marine Corps in early 1968, Nickerson's billet was redesignated director of personnel/deputy chief of staff for manpower, and he was promoted to the rank oflieutenant general on 15 March 1968. He remained in this capacity until the end of March 1969, when he received orders for his second deployment to Vietnam. For his service at the Headquarters Marine Corps, Nickerson received his third Legion of Merit.[6][1][2]
Nickerson returned to Vietnam and assumed command of III MAF in Da Nang succeeding his former superior, general Cushman. In this capacity, he was responsible for the 172,000 marine, navy, and army personnel within the defense of 10,000 square miles of I Corps Tactical Zone. His command consisted of 1st,3rd Marine Divisions and1st Marine Aircraft Wing.[13][14]
However the new policy ofVietnamization led to the reduction of US forces in South Vietnam. In mid-1969, Nickerson oversaw the redeployment of 3rd Marine Division, which was detached from his command and transferred toOkinawa withinOperations Keystone Eagle andKeystone Cardinal. Throughout the rest of 1969, he oversaw the planning and execution of several search and destroy operations (includingOklahoma Hills,Pipestone Canyon) and his units inflicted severe losses on the enemy and capturing over 17,000 weapons and tons of enemy munitions, supplies, and foodstuffs.[13]
In early 1970,XXIV Corps consisting of23rd Infantry Division (Americal),101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) and 1st Brigade,5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), was placed underoperational control of III MAF and Nickerson was also responsible for about 50,000United States Army troops.[13]
Nickerson completed his second tour in Vietnam on 9 March 1970 when formally handed over control of I Corps to MGMelvin Zais, commander of XXIV Corps and command of III MAF to Lieutenant GeneralKeith B. McCutcheon. For his service as commanding general, III MAF, Nickerson was decorated with his second Navy Distinguished Service Medal and also receivedKorean Order of Military Merit, 5th Class andNational Order of Vietnam, Officer.[6][2][15][16][13]
He was subsequently ordered back to the United States and retired after 35 years of active service on 31 March 1970. Following his retirement, Nickerson worked as chairman,National Credit Union Administration and the newly created National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund until 1976. He then settled with his wife Phyllis inJacksonville, North Carolina, and wrote the bookLeadership Lessons and Remembrances from Vietnam in 1988 about his experiences from Vietnam War. They later moved toBelfast, Maine, where Nickerson was active in the Marine Corps History Program.[17]
Nickerson was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by then-Commandant of the Marine CorpsRobert H. Barrow for his contributions to the Oral History Program.[18] Lieutenant General Herman Nickerson Jr. died on 27 December 2000 inBelfast, Maine.[2]
A complete list of the general's medals and decorations include:[6]
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| Preceded by | Commanding General ofIII Marine Amphibious Force March 27, 1969 - March 9, 1970 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commanding General of1st Marine Division October 1, 1966 - May 31, 1967 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commanding General ofCamp Lejeune June 1, 1965 - September 8, 1966 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commanding General ofMarine Corps Supply Center Barstow April 10, 1963 - June 1, 1965 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commanding General of1st Marine Division June 15, 1962 - April 9, 1963 | Succeeded by |
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Marine Corps.