Henry N Nickerson

On episode three hundred and ninety-nine, the story of Henry N Nickerson is told. All stories in March and April will be recipients from the Mexican Campaign. Check out new swag available where 50% of profits get donated to the Medal of Honor Museum: https://bit.ly/TOHswag Be sure to visit our website for more information as the show goes on at: www.talesofhonorpodcast.com.

Henry was born in Edgewood, West Virginia, on the 2nd of December, 1888. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1907 and it was his actions as a Boatswain’s Mate Second Class that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Utah, Nickerson showed extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the seizure of Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21 April 1914.

The commendation letter that was written in support of Henry’s actions states that he was wounded three times, applied bandages, and then took charge of a squad. The squad built an advanced barricade and then occupied a dangerous position, where Henry was wounded three more times, this time shattering his left leg both above and below the knee. He was carried to the rear where his leg had to be amputated close to the hip. His coolness and skill earned him a promotion to Boatswain’s Mate First Class, the Medal of Honor (which was awarded to him on the 18th of April, 1915), and a “gratuity of One Hundred Dollars”.

Henry married his wife Anna in 1916 and they had one son and one daughter. Henry Nehemiah Nickerson died on the 2nd of May, 1979 at the age of 90 and he is buried with Anna in the Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling, West Virginia: Section G, Lot 179.