World War II Honoree

Lewis Nixon

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New York City, New York

Honored By

A Grateful American

HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY ON JANUARY 14, 1941. AFTER GRADUATING FROM ARMY OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL IN 1941 AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT, HE MADE THE DECISION TO JOIN THE PARATROOPS. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO EASY COMPANY OF THE 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT. HE WENT THROUGH THE REGIMENTAL UNIT TRAINING AND PRE-AIRBORNE TRAINING AT CAMP TOCCOA, GEORGIA, AND AIRBORNE SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA, EVENTUALLY TRAINING AT MANY LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND ENGLAND FOR THE INVASION OF FRANCE. HE WAS APPOINTED AS THE 2ND BATTALION INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, AND SHOWED ENOUGH SKILL AT HIS JOB TO BE MOVED UP TO THE REGIMENTAL LEVEL AS 506TH INFANTRY S2, SHORTLY AFTER EASY COMPANY TOOK CARENTAN ON JUNE 12, 1944. HE SERVED IN NORMANDY, THE NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, AND GERMANY, THOUGH HE NEVER FIRED A SHOT. HE WAS ONE OF THE FEW MEN OF THE 101ST AIRBORNE TO JUMP WITH ANOTHER DIVISION OR REGIMENT. ON MARCH 24, 1945, HE WAS ASSIGNED BY GENERAL MAXWELL TAYLOR AS AN OBSERVER WITH THE 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION ON OPERATION VARSITY. HIS PLANE TOOK A DIRECT HIT AFTER HE AND THREE OTHERS GOT OUT. HE IS ALSO ONE OF A VERY FEW MEN IN THE 101ST TO EARN THREE COMBAT JUMP STARS ON HIS JUMP WINGS. HE ENDED THE WAR WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN. HE SAW THE DEFEAT OF GERMANY, AND RETURNED HOME IN SEPTEMBER 1945.