Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Boatswain's Mate Second Class Henry Nehemiah Nickerson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 21, 1914 in Vera Cruz, Mexico during the 1914 Veracruz expedition. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Utah. Nickerson was 25 years old.
40 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 6, 1915 — presented by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on the deck of the USS Florida at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
Nickerson was born on December 2, 1888 in Edgewood, Kanawha County, West Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to West Virginia. Nickerson died on May 2, 1979, at the age of 90. He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Nickerson is one of 56 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1914 Veracruz expedition and one of 45 credited to West Virginia.
Official Medal of Honor citation
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.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
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From the archives
Additional information on his action comes from U.S. Navy General Order No. 101, dated June 15, 1914: Nickerson "was slightly wounded three times during the afternoon of April 21, and after first-aid bandages had been applied, he took charge of a squad that built an advanced barricade under fire. He then occupied a dangerous position at the corner of Zaragoza and San Miguel Streets. Here he was again wounded three times, two shots shattering his left leg above and below the knee. He was then carried to the rear and has since had his leg amputated close to the hip. His grit after having been wounded three times, and the courage he displayed when his later wounds made it necessary to carry him to the rear, was an inspiration to all who saw him."
Timeline
- December 2, 1888Born in Edgewood, Kanawha County, West Virginia
- April 21, 1914Act of valor — Vera Cruz, MexicoAge 25. U.S.S. Utah
- January 6, 1915Medal of Honor presentedPresented by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on the deck of the USS Florida at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
- May 2, 1979DiedAge 90.
- Resting placeGreenwood CemeteryWheeling, West Virginia
Biography
Henry Nehemiah Nickerson (December 2, 1888 – May 2, 1979) was a Boatswain's Mate Second Class in the United States Navy and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the United States occupation of Veracruz. He died May 2, 1979, and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Wheeling, West Virginia. His grave can be found in section G, lot 179.
From the Wikipedia article “Henry Nehemiah Nickerson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
