MARTIN J NICKELSON
VIEW ALL PHOTOS (3)
HONORED ON PANEL 27W, LINE 90 OF THE WALL

MARTIN JOHN NICKELSON

WALL NAME

MARTIN J NICKELSON

PANEL / LINE

27W/90

DATE OF BIRTH

07/08/1950

CASUALTY PROVINCE

QUANG TRI

DATE OF CASUALTY

04/15/1969

HOME OF RECORD

MINNEAPOLIS

COUNTY OF RECORD

Hennepin County

STATE

MN

BRANCH OF SERVICE

MARINE CORPS

RANK

PFC

Book a time
Contact Details

REMEMBRANCES

LEFT FOR MARTIN JOHN NICKELSON
POSTED ON 4.11.2014
POSTED BY: Curt Carter [email protected]

Remembering An American Hero

Dear PFC Martin John Nickelson, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter
read more read less
POSTED ON 1.28.2014

Thank You

Thank You for your service uncle Marty I wish I had the chance t to meet you.
read more read less
POSTED ON 4.15.2012
POSTED BY: A Marine

Semper Fi

Semper Fi, Marine.
read more read less
POSTED ON 3.29.2008
POSTED BY: Jim McIlhenney

The Faces Behind the Names

MARTIN JOHN NICKELSON
Marine Corps Private First Class

Born: July 8, 1950
Died: April 15, 1969

Martin John Nickelson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 8, 1950. As a kid, Marty was active in the Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts, developing a love for the outdoors and related activities. He also loved sports, participating in baseball, football and hockey. Always a Good Samaritan, it was not uncommon for Marty to help others who had less than he did. He would often spend hours helping elderly neighbors with yard work and odd jobs, and always shared what he had with his friends. Spending time with his friends was his greatest pleasure. In the words of one of his favorite songs, Marty loved to go cruising with "no particular place to go."
After graduation from South High School, it was not a surprise when Marty joined the service. His best pal and older brother, Mike, had joined the Navy right out of high school in 1966, and Marty was gung ho to serve his country, too. His favorite uncle, Wally, had joined the USMC right out of school during the Korean War. Because of their close relationship, Marty chose the Marine Corps, too (much to the chagrin of his father, Robert, who had been in the Air Force). Marty took his basic and reconnaissance training at Fort Pendleton, California. He was killed on April 15, 1969 in Quang Tri Province, while on patrol as a member of the 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company. He is buried at Fort Snelling Cemetery.
It was a great shock to receive the news of Marty's death, and only our faith in God allowed us to get through that difficult time. Not a day goes by that we don't think of Marty; not a family gathering is held without our reminiscing about his great sense of humor and playful antics. Although he has now been gone from us longer than we were privileged to have him with us, Marty's memory keeps us happy and draws us closer together. No one could ever take his place or take his memory from our hearts. In us, Marty will stay forever young, and his memory keeps us young as a result.
We are so very thankful and proud to have our beloved son, brother and friend included in this book. It is a fitting tribute to him and all the other young men who gave the greatest sacrifice during the Vietnam War. We remember all of them and their families, and pray that everyone in our country remembers-and never forgets-the lessons they taught us about war and death.
Marty is survived by his father, Robert; his mother, Marian; his brothers, Mike, Tom, Kevin and Brian; his sisters, Mary Ellen, Ann and Therese; his best friend, Ken Patterson; and all the many relatives and friends whose lives he touched so deeply in his lifetime.

The family of Martin Nickelson

From "The Faces Behind the Names," by Don Ward

Semper Fidelis, Marine!
read more read less
POSTED ON 2.8.2006
POSTED BY: Bill Nelson

Never Forgotten

FOREVER REMEMBERED

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind...."

Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.

We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you, one of the gentle heroes lost to the War in Vietnam:

Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.

From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers

read more read less