Herman Nickerson Jr. was born on July 30, 1913, in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Herman Nickerson Sr. and Emma Eva Carver Nickerson. He was married to Phyllis A. Winters Nickerson. He attended Arlington High School and later Boston University, where he participated in ROTC and earned a business degree in 1935. Initially commissioned as a Reserve second lieutenant, he resigned to join the Marine Corps in July 1935.

LtGen Nickerson had a distinguished military career spanning World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He began his service in the Marine Corps in the early 1940s, receiving training at the Army Coast Artillery School before joining the 2nd Defense Battalion in American Samoa, where he played a key role in anti-aircraft defense. Promoted to major in 1942 and lieutenant colonel in 1945, he held various training and leadership roles before serving in the occupation of China, earning a Bronze Star Medal.

During the Korean War, he led the 7th Marine Regiment in key battles, including the Battle of Inchon and the Battle of the Punch Bowl. Following the war, he held senior leadership positions, including Director of the Senior School at Quantico, and was promoted to brigadier general in 1959 and major general in 1962. In the Vietnam War, he commanded the 1st Marine Division and later the III Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF), overseeing major operations and implementing counterinsurgency programs. His leadership in Vietnam earned him multiple commendations, including two Navy Distinguished Service Medals. After retiring in 1970, he worked with the National Credit Union Administration and wrote a book on leadership. LtGen Nickerson died on December 27, 2000, and is now buried in the Maplewood Cemetery, Lincolnville, Waldo County, Maine, USA.

Source of information: en.wikipedia.org