The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Major General Herman Nickerson, Jr. (MCSN: 0-5128), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Deputy Commander, III Marine Amphibious Force in connection with operations against the enemy in Vietnam from 1 June to 16 October 1967. Major General Nickerson demonstrated exceptional professional ability and leadership in directing a myriad of vitally important projects and functions. Monitoring all operations, policies and trends, he rendered invaluable assistance to the Commanding General and guidance to the staff by providing logical solutions to problems encountered in the extensive operations of a major combat command. He capably supervised every aspect of the vitally important Combined Action Program. Traveling through hostile territory by various means and often on foot, he visited each combined action group headquarters and twenty-seven units operating throughout the I Corps Tactical Zone. With foresight and tireless effort, he established a combined action school capable of providing seventy trained Marines bi-weekly in support of the program. As Chairman of the Joint Coordinating Council, which included civilian and military representatives of the United States and Vietnamese Governments, Major General Nickerson had the responsibility of coordinating allied efforts in the Pacification Program and was instrumental in accelerating the development of numerous projects, including a sugar refinery at Quang Ngai, a medical center for the DaNang area and the An Hoa industrial complex. Exhibiting exceptional professional proficiency in the fields of financial management and logistics, he ensured a continuous flow of vital supplies and effective maintenance support to units of the force actively engaged in combat operations. Major General Nickerson also directed the Military Construction Program in I Corps Area, carefully monitoring all projects and expenditures. He saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in military assistance funds on one project alone. His military bearing and skillful execution of all tasks earned him the respect and admiration of all with whom he served and contributed immeasurably to the accomplishment of the Marine Corps’ mission in Vietnam. By his extraordinary professional ability, superb leadership, and selfless devotion to duty, Major General Nickerson upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant General Herman Nickerson, Jr. (MCSN: 0-5128), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as the Deputy Chief of Staff (Manpower), Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, with concomitant responsibilities as Director of Personnel of the Marine Corps from 12 January 1968 to 25 March 1969. As Deputy Chief of Staff (Manpower), General Nickerson displayed outstanding judgment, executive skill, and professional competence in serving as the principal advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Chief of Staff on all Manpower matters for regular, reserve, both active and inactive, and civilian personnel, as well as the individual training and education of military personnel. In this capacity, General Nickerson’s responsibilities included the planning, direction, coordination, supervision, and implementation of over 300,000 active duty personnel, approximately 170,000 Marine Corps Reserve personnel, and cognizance over some 25,000 civilian personnel. Completely dedicated to the best interests of the Marine Corps and showing great depth of understanding of human relationships, General Nickerson established outstanding rapport with members of the civilian secretariat at both the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy levels, and his counterpart manpower deputies of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force. With his keen sense of humor and broad insight into all aspects of manpower matters, he skillfully supervised such varied and complex programs as Project 100,000, Project Transition, expansion of the Marine Corps Minority Affairs Program, and he ensured that our forces were provided the best possible, highly educated and trained officers and enlisted personnel to meet the increasing manpower requirements of the Marine Corps throughout the world and especially in Southeast Asia. Further, General Nickerson devoted extensive time, study, and discussion to the matter of responsibilities for the Marine Corps civilian employees. Through his forceful, energetic, and intelligent efforts in this area, he was responsible for delineation and retention of the Commander’s authority in the management and administration of the Marine Corps Civilian Personnel Program. As the Director of Personnel, General Nickerson provided highly effective, personalized, and objective leadership in the administration of the Personnel Department, one of the most complex and difficult assignments as Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. By his dynamic and untiring performance, he ensured that the Marine Corps procured the best available applicants, provided them superior military education and training, placed them where their skills would best serve the needs of the Marine Corps, and rendered exceptionally effective administration to personnel matters of all Marines and civilian employees. By his personal example, high moral standards, and superior leadership, he inspired his subordinates to achieve the greatest possible results and earned for himself the respect and admiration of all with whom he served. General Nickerson’s distinguished record of achievement, his extraordinary devotion to duty, and his outstanding professional abilities reflected credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.