World War II Honoree

Ian D. Nicolson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Yolo, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD AND WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY MARCH 3, 1941 AT WOODLAND, CALIFORNIA. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH DELTA COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE 'SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION IN THE EARLY, DARK MORNING HOURS OF D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HE DIED ALONG WITH 17 OTHER PARATROOPERS AND ALL 4 AIR CORPS PERSONNEL WHEN HIS C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ TROOP CARRIER WAS SHOT DOWN BY GERMAN ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTERIES AND CRASHED NEAR VARENGUEBEC WEST OF PICAUVILLE ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA. THE DISASTER OCCURRED AS THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE-D AREA, LOCATED AT ANGOVILLE-AU-PLAIN, FRANCE. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA FOR BURIAL APRIL 22, 1949, WITH INTERMENT IN THE GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL CEMETERY, SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA.