David Leonard Nicholson
Private First Class
A CO, 1ST BN, 61ST INFANTRY, 5TH INF DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
San Diego, California
March 29, 1949 to November 30, 1969
DAVID L NICHOLSON is on the Wall at Panel W15, Line 10

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David L Nicholson
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01 Nov 2003

My friend David. I have missed you for 35 years. You will never know what I felt when I learned that you died in Vietnam. I wasn't there when you were killed, I wasn't there when you were buried, I can't seem to close the book and put you to rest. I know that you are in the Arms of the Lord and I hope to see you again, but for now I only have our childhood memories growing up together. I don't even have a picture of you to help me remember what you were like. I have tried to locate your Mother and Sister but so far I've struck out. I want so much to tell them how much I miss you. Well, Sleep my friend, be at peace, and know that you are loved.

Ken Ford



05 Oct 2007

David, I talked to your mother this week. She was glad to hear from my and I was glad to talk to her too. I have waited for a very long time to say to her, how much you are missed. I held back the tears until I talked to her and then I let them flow. Don't worry about how things are - everyone is doing OK. I just thought you would want to know that I have finally reached your mother after all these years.

Love you, Brother! Rest well ... we will meet each other again some day.



Ken Ford
keford@comcast.net

 

15 Mar 2006


David L Nicholson

In Memory Of David Nicholson
Kearny High School Classmate 1967

David was a good football player! Great "Hands" catching the ball as a offensive tight end. He also did more than his share of great line blocking. David was better than I was offensively, so we shared the end position, David playing offense and me on defense. We shared many years in sports together. I was saddened to hear David was killed in Viet Nam while I was stationed at Hunter Leggett, California. Dave, all the Komets miss you at togethers. Rest in peace my friend!

From a classmate and fellow soldier,
Dan Powell
E-mail address is not available.

 

04 Aug 2007

I remember David as a very kind and quiet person. It has been 39 years since we graduated from Kearny High School, Class of 68! Words cannot express the sadness that I have felt all of these years upon learning of David's fate. My memories of him are happy and carefree, we were so young ... now I have grown older and David remains young in my mind and heart. Watch over us dear friend, you have not been forgotten!

From a friend,
Christine Bourne Waters
wanderingwaters@hotmail.com

 

David was is remembered as a nice, quiet, happy and carefree guy. After high school, he attended Mesa College until 25 February 1969, when he entered the Army. Six months later, on 4 August 1969, he was deployed to Vietnam.

While setting up a patrol area, Company A, 1/61st Infantry, lost two men in an accident on 30 Nov 69, when artillery fire, being used to clear the area, detonated near them. They were: SGT Robert Eugene Vandergriff and PFC David Leonard Nicholson.

While serving with Company A, the 1/61st Infantry of the 5th Infantry Division received the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (read about the award here) and a Valorous Unit Award (VUA) for the Action of 11-13 November 1969 against 3 battalions of the 27th NVA Regiment. Read 1st page of orders here, and second page of orders here.

David was survived by his parents, Mrs. Emma J Nicholson, San Diego and James Nicholson, Phoenix Arizona. David is buried in El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, California.

- - The Virtual Wall, August 2, 2014

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