- SURNAME
Nickel
- FORENAME
Thomas Frederik
- UNIT
1st Raider Battalion (Company H)
- RANK
Private
- NUMBER
367233
- DATE OF DEATH
7th August 1942
- AGE
21
- GRAVESITE
Deepdale Memorial Park, Delta Township, Michigan, USA
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 18.07.1921, Lansing, Michigan, USA
father Fred W. Nickel (1889-1969)
mother Hazel (nee Buskirk) Nickel (1891-1971)
1939 graduated Eastern High School
employed by Motor Wheel Corporation
03.02.1942 enlisted
Next of kin - Father Mr. Fred W. Nickel, RFD 2, Box 302, Lansing, Michigan
KIA Tulagi, Solomon Islands
posthumous Silver Star
USS Thomas F. Nickel (DE-587) named in his honour
DATE OF DEATH:
07-Aug-1942AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/58453/CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private Thomas F. Nickel (MCSN: 367233), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company B, First Marine Raider Battalion during an attack against enemy Japanese forces on Tulagi, Solomon Islands, on august 7, 1942. In the face of hostile machine-gun fire, Private Nickel, with utter disregard for his own safety, worked his way forward until he was close enough to the enemy position to engage it with hand grenades. Although he, himself, was mortally wounded, his squad was able to advance without further casualties. His tenacious devotion to duty and great personal valor were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the defense for his country.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/37974FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134461076/thomas-frederik-nickelSERVICE HISTORY:
NICKEL, Thomas F., Pvt 521/745 SN: 367233
Born: 18 Jul 1921 Lansing, Michigan
Enlisted USMCR: 3 Feb 1942 (Home of Record: RFD 2, Box 302, Lansing, Michigan)
Died: 07 Aug 1942 (KIA, Tulagi Island, British Solomon Islands)
Interred: Deepdale Memorial Park Cemetery, Delta Twp, Eton County, MI (Section , Row , Site )
Headquarters, Central Recruiting Division, Chicago, IL
Feb 1942 Pvt, Hq, CRD, Chicago, IL “3Feb42; 3, Jd enl at DHS Detroit, Mich. and to tr to MB, Parris Island, S.C.”
Unknown Recruit Battalion, Recruit Depot, Marine Barracks, Parris Island, SC
Feb 1942 Pvt, Unk RecBn, RDep, MB, Parris Island, SC “3Feb42; 5, Jdfr CRD, 3, enl at SDHS Detroit, Mich.”
Headquarters Company, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA
Apr 1942 Pvt, HqCo, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF, In the Field “1-26, HqCo; 27, to Co B, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF; 1, entrained at MB, Quantico, Va.; 1-5, enroute; 6, arr & detrained at MCB, San Diego, Calif.; 6-11, at MCB, San Diego, Calif.; 12, emb on bd USS ZEILIN at San Diego, Calif.; 13, sailed; 14-27, passage”
Company B, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Division, FMF, In the Field
Apr 1942 Pvt, Co B, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF, In the Field (Tutuila, Samoa) “27, jdfr HqCo, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF; 28, arr at NS, Tutuila, Samoa”
Jul 1942 Pvt, Co B, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF, In the Field (Tutuila, Samoa & Noumea, New Caledonia) “1-4, at Tutuila, Samoa; 4, emb on bd USS HEYWOOD for trans from Tutuila, Samoa to Noumea, New Caledonia; 5-9, underway; 10, arr at Noumea, New Caledonia; 11, disemb; 23, emb on bd USS COLHOUN for spl assignment and sailed same date.”
Aug 1942 Pvt, Co B, 1stMarRdrBn, 1stMarDiv, FMF, In the Field (Tulagi, British Solomon Is) “ 7, Killed in Action
Born: 18 Jul 1921 Lansing, Michigan
Enlisted USMCR: 3 Feb 1942 (Home of Record: RFD 2, Box 302, Lansing, Michigan)
Died: 07 Aug 1942 (KIA, Tulagi Island, British Solomon Islands)
Interred: Deepdale Memorial Park Cemetery, Delta Twp, Eton County, MI (Section , Row , Site )
Headquarters, Central Recruiting Division, Chicago, IL
Feb 1942 Pvt, Hq, CRD, Chicago, IL “3Feb42; 3, Jd enl at DHS Detroit, Mich. and to tr to MB, Parris Island, S.C.”
Unknown Recruit Battalion, Recruit Depot, Marine Barracks, Parris Island, SC
Feb 1942 Pvt, Unk RecBn, RDep, MB, Parris Island, SC “3Feb42; 5, Jdfr CRD, 3, enl at SDHS Detroit, Mich.”
Headquarters Company, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA
Apr 1942 Pvt, HqCo, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF, In the Field “1-26, HqCo; 27, to Co B, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF; 1, entrained at MB, Quantico, Va.; 1-5, enroute; 6, arr & detrained at MCB, San Diego, Calif.; 6-11, at MCB, San Diego, Calif.; 12, emb on bd USS ZEILIN at San Diego, Calif.; 13, sailed; 14-27, passage”
Company B, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Division, FMF, In the Field
Apr 1942 Pvt, Co B, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF, In the Field (Tutuila, Samoa) “27, jdfr HqCo, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF; 28, arr at NS, Tutuila, Samoa”
Jul 1942 Pvt, Co B, 1stMarRdrBn, FMF, In the Field (Tutuila, Samoa & Noumea, New Caledonia) “1-4, at Tutuila, Samoa; 4, emb on bd USS HEYWOOD for trans from Tutuila, Samoa to Noumea, New Caledonia; 5-9, underway; 10, arr at Noumea, New Caledonia; 11, disemb; 23, emb on bd USS COLHOUN for spl assignment and sailed same date.”
Aug 1942 Pvt, Co B, 1stMarRdrBn, 1stMarDiv, FMF, In the Field (Tulagi, British Solomon Is) “ 7, Killed in Action
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