Ronald William Nickerson

Specialist Fourth Class Ronald William Nickerson was born on January 13, 1944, to Allan and Catherine Nickerson. His home of record is Camden, NJ. Ronald graduated from Camden Catholic High School in 1963.

He served in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of Specialist 4th Class. He served with B Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. His tour of duty in Vietnam began on September 25, 1965. Specialist Fourth Class Nickerson was killed in action, having stepped on a land mine, on December 21, 1965.

Ronald William Nickerson is buried at Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly, New Jersey — Section R, Site 57.

Ronald William Nickerson is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 4E, Line 33.

Never Forget

It has been 43 years since I led a relief effort into the jungle that day. I will never forget the sight as we loaded you on the plane. You will never be forgotten. Rest in peace.

— James Popwell, Former Comrade, Vineland, NJ — December 21, 2008

I think of you often — your name on the wall touched me deeply. When I was a Freshman at CCHS my big brother, Tim, was a Senior as was Ronny. Tim always told me what a great guy Nickerson was. We had a half-hour “club” period in the late afternoon once a week. Those who didn’t want to do anything were herded together in classrooms to pass the time. I ended up sitting next to Ronny. He was very nice to me even though I was a geeky freshman. He was a regular guy even though he was handsome and popular. I admired him a good deal. He cut up and laughed and made the time pass quickly. That was 1962 and it is like it was yesterday. They announced Ronny’s passing on the school intercom one afternoon in my senior year. It made me very sad and made me realize how serious Vietnam was and how tough life can be.

— Joe McKim, Freshman — CCHS — Ronny was a Senior, Lansdale, PA — November 6, 2007

Ronny, Ronny — we both went to Nam, I lived & you didn’t. You died less than a month before I enlisted (with draft breathing down my neck). How many others from Camden Catholic High School’s Class of ’63 died in our generation’s offshore war? I remember you pumping me for answers to Mr. McDowell’s history tests during junior-year homeroom. You & Tommy Lattick & Micky Persiano. You’ve been dead for 34 years. . fd

— Francis Duffy, same high school, same class (1963) — May 21, 1999

Ronnie Nickerson, it has been many years since high school and I remember all the good times we had riding together to school with Tommy Ladik in his Chevelle 4 speed. Oh those simple times we all took for granted. Little did we know in Father Jordan history class when he said Vietnam would affect all our lives — we never heard of it! I was drafted a month before you died so very young. I was fortunate I did not go to Vietnam, but many went like you did. I remember the day you told me you pushed up your draft so you could get it out of the way, so you could go into business with your brother Allen. I think about you often, especially when I see a man in uniform. You proudly served your country, Ron, and you are a hero in my eyes and I’m sure all of our classmates! You signed my yearbook: “Dan, best of luck in the future and I hope to see you around Ivy Lanes.” We never saw each other in Ivy anymore, and every reunion I wish you could be there.

— Dan D’Andrea, school mate and friend, Vincentown, NJ — September 28, 2000

Posting again to update my email address and in further remembrance of Ron Nickerson. Glad to see that another CCHS Class of 1963 alum, Dan D’Andrea, likewise posted in remembrance of Ron. “When we draft young men for a war, we reject the physically unfit, the mentally inferior and the morally deficient — leaving them home to reproduce the race while we send out the finest stock to be killed. This is called ‘defending the future of the nation.’”

— Frank Duffy, Classmate, Honolulu, HI — March 16, 2002