Arthur Ward Nichols
| NAME: Arthur Ward Nichols | NICKNAME: Nick | SERVICE NUMBER: 291975 (enlisted) 0-45987 (commissioned) | |||||
| HOME OF RECORD: Almira, WA | NEXT OF KIN: Sister, Mrs. Dorothea F. Hyde | ||||||
| DATE OF BIRTH: 8/8/1920 | SERVICE DATES: 8/8/1940 – 1946 | DATE OF DEATH: 3/30/1985 | |||||
| CAMPAIGN | UNIT | MOS | RATE | RESULT | |||
| Midway | MG Group, 6th Defense Battalion | — | PFC | ||||
| Roi-Namur | Weapons/24th Marines | 610 | Sergeant | ||||
| Saipan | Weapons/24th Marines | 602 | Sergeant | WIA | |||
| Tinian | Weapons/24th Marines | 602 | Sergeant | ||||
| Iwo Jima | Weapons/24th Marines | 811 (Platoon Leader) | Gunnery Sergeant | WIA (2X) | |||
| INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS: Bronze Star, Purple Heart with two Gold Stars | LAST KNOWN RANK: Second Lieutenant | ||||||
After fighting in five campaigns with other units, Second Lieutenant Nichols served as a platoon leader in B/1/24th Marines during the closing months of World War II.
For heroic achievement while serving as a gun commander in a platoon in action against the enemy on Saipan. On June 16, 1944, when his platoon leader was seriously wounded by enemy machine gun fire during a withdrawal, Sgt. Nochols ordered the other men of his gun crew to accompany the infanty while he remained behind with his wounded platoon leader. After giving him first aid, Sgt. Nichols assisted his platoon leader back to the infantry lines through heavy enemy rifle and machine gun fire. His heroic action assisted greatly in saving his platoon leader’s life and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States naval service.
"The War To End All Wars Didn't."
A 1983 letter from Nick to a fellow veteran, reflecting on his experiences during the war.