World War II Honoree

Max Montague Nichols, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Savannah, Georgia

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

Relationship

Classmate

HE WAS CALLED INTO ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE CHEMICAL WARFARE SERVICE IN LATE 1941. WHEN THE 308TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP WAS ACTIVATED AT GOWEN FIELD, IDAHO IN APRIL, 1942, HE VOLUNTEERED FOR SERVICE, JOINING THE GROUP LATER THAT YEAR AND BEING TRAINED AS A BOMBARDIER. IN OCTOBER HE HAD TRANSITION TRAINING IN THE B-24. THE GROUP LEFT MORRISON FIELD, FLORIDA ON FEBRUARY 14, 1943 AND WAS STATIONED IN CHINA, SUPPORTING CHINESE GROUND FORCES AND CARRYING OUT BOMBING RAIDS IN CHINA, FRENCH INDO-CHINA, AND BURMA. ON A BOMBING MISSION OVER RANGOON ON DECEMBER 1, 1943, HIS PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN AND THE ENTIRE CREW DIED. FOR HIS SERVICE, HE RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART, THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND A DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION.