World War II Honoree

Nelson P. Nichols

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Central Islip, New York

Honored By

Michael McTiernan

Prior to his enlistment on June 27, 1942 he had served in the U.S. Navy. As Water Tender, he served in the fireroom of the USS Lackawanna. For two and a half years he was on active duty in the Pacific Theatre of operations, returning to the United States on November 1, 1944. After a thirty day furlough, he attended a six week course at a turbine and boiler laboratory, after which he was assigned to the new aircraft carrier Antietam. Following a shakedown cruise in the Atlantic, the ship was assigned to the Pacific Theatre of operations for the duration of the war. He returned to the United States on the Destroyer Claxton, which came to the Atlantic for the Navy Day Ceremony October 27, 1945. He received his discharge from Lido Beach, New York on October 22, 1945.