Robert D. Nickens Sr.

Born to Richard and Louise Nickens in Washington, DC on Valentine’s Day 1937, Robert Nickens was a member of the cross-country team, the swim team, and the Rex Club at Dunbar High School. Graduating in 1955, he attended American University earning an Associate’s Degree in Business in 1957. During that summer, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at Naval Base Anacostia for active duty under training. Completing recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, he was designated for further training as a basic aircraft repairman. When his training time was nearly completed, Robert realized that he enjoyed the service so much that he enlisted in the regular U.S. Marine Corps and dropped out of college.

With the completion of his specialty training, Robert joined VMF-321 to undergo Aviation Fundamental School with VMF-321 – an A-1 Skyraider squadron. From 1957 through 1958, he continued his training with the Marine Air Detachment at the Naval Training Center in Jacksonville, Florida. Robert spent the next two years at Cherry Point, North Carolina getting hands on experience in aircraft maintenance and repair. During this tour, Robert married Patsy E. Arthur, in 1959, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC. They soon transferred to California where Robert joined his first helicopter squadron which soon deployed to Japan for the first of many unaccompanied tours that split the family during their marriage. Patsy joined him in Seattle upon his return, and they drove down to California where he joined another squadron at Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro.

In 1965, Robert’s squadron shipped out to join the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Da Nang, South Vietnam. During this time, Sgt. Nickens worked as a 6441, basic aircraft mechanic, when he wasn’t flying. When he was aloft, Robert served as a crewman crouched over an M-60 or .50 caliber machine-gun. As he racked up missions, he qualified for the Marine aviation’s highly-prized Combat Air Crewman’s Wings. He also received his first air medal on 15 June 1966.

Successfully completing his tour of duty, Robert was sent to Marine Barracks, Naval Operating Base, Philadelphia for two years to serve with the base guard force. There he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and the war beckoned him for another 12 months in Vietnam. His new squadron, HMH-463, was a heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron flying CH-53 aircraft. The squadron had been in continuous operations since arriving two years before and was relieved to have another veteran joining the unit. Robert served as an aircraft structural mechanic, repairing the fuselage and interior supports which were constantly being shot up or damaged in combat. He also resumed his position as a combat air crewman and on 29 May 1969 Robert was awarded another Air Medal for his aerial combat service.

Upon completion of his second tour of duty, Robert returned to Patsy and his family in California. The next four years were much more stable as the Vietnam War began to wind down. In 1972, he was promoted to gunnery sergeant and two years later, Robert was transferred to Okinawa to join Marine Attack Squadron, HMA-369 flying the brand-new AH-1J Sea Cobras, the first Marine helicopters designed specifically for attacking enemy ground targets. This squadron regularly shifted from ship to shore, operating out of Marine Corps Air Station, Futenma, Okinawa.

Gunny Nickens joined part of his squadron on the USS Midway when Marine Air Group Thirty-Six deployed to the coast of South Vietnam in April 1975 for Operation Frequent Wind - the evacuation of Saigon. During his third and last deployment to the war-torn country, Gunny Nickens watched the bitter end of the conflict play out.

While with HMA-369, Gunny Nickens reenlisted for two more years on 23 April 1975; this enlistment would give him the twenty years needed to retire at half-pay. When he returned to the States for the final time, the U.S. Marine Corps assigned him to Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron Thirty-one, Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-one at Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, South Carolina. Here he served his final two years in MOS 6042, aircraft mechanic, servicing several types of aircraft with greater expertise and capability than they could be within their own squadrons. On 30 June 1977, he received his honorable discharge to go along with six Good Conduct Medals signifying a career of excellent service to his nation.

Patsy and Robert returned to California where Robert took a position with the Department of Defense working as a supervisor for the Defense Casualty Analysis System, an organization that collects and maintains information on warfighters who have fallen in global or regional conflicts. Upon retiring from his second career, he and Patsy moved to Las Vegas where he lived out his golden years. In retirement, Robert enjoyed to spend time with his wife, traveling, listening to music, and watching John Wayne Westerns. Robert passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 9, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents: Richard and Louise Nickens, two brothers, and one sister. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Patsy Edith (neé Arthur); his son, Robert Jr.; his niece, Lisa; nephew, Michael (Janice); and his best friends: Richard and Beatrice Harris.